At least 66 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn. The latest developments include reports of damage caused by a rocket fired from northern Gaza, which fell near the Beit Hanoon crossing. Aid trucks, desperately needed in Gaza, are being targeted as aid agencies warn that the amount of aid entering Gaza does not compare to the amount needed.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said indirect negotiations with Hamas have resumed in Qatar for the return of captives held in Gaza. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has reiterated his demand for a ceasefire deal after Hamas published a video showing one of the captives held in Gaza.
The situation is further complicated by reports that the US State Department has “informally notified Congress” of an $8bn proposed arms sale to Israel. The UN’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon said its personnel observed an Israeli army bulldozer destroying a “blue barrel marking the line of withdrawal between Lebanon and Israel”.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group is ready to respond to Israeli ceasefire violations. Meanwhile, Palestinian journalists syndicate reported that at least 10 journalists were killed in December, including five victims who were killed in a “brutal attack while inside a live broadcast vehicle”.
The violence has also led to concerns about medical services in Gaza, with doctors and medical workers often becoming casualties of war. The situation remains dire, with the Indonesian Hospital in north Gaza no longer treating patients due to Israeli attacks.
As Gaza truce talks resume in Qatar, analysts say chances “are low” that a ceasefire deal gets done, with Israel’s leaders waiting for Donald Trump to take office before putting more pressure on Hamas to relent.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/4/live-israels-bombing-carnage-escalates-as-gaza-ceasefire-talks-resume