Gaza Death Toll Climbs as Ceasefire Talks To Resume

At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes overnight, hospital staff said, with the death toll climbing to 56 over the past 24 hours. Strikes targeted areas in central Gaza, including Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital staff.

Israeli military officials did not comment on the latest strikes but reiterated that Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths, claiming militants operate in densely populated areas. The airstrikes come as ceasefire talks are resuming, with a delegation authorized by the Israeli Prime Minister, set to engage in further negotiations.

Why It Matters

The intensified violence underscores the human cost of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, now in its 15th month.

With thousands of lives lost, including many women and children, and millions displaced, the war has created a humanitarian crisis, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The resumption of ceasefire talks provides a glimmer of hope amid the devastation.

Ceasefire Talks Resume

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that he has authorized a delegation comprising members of the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security service, and the military to resume negotiations in Qatar. The delegation was set to depart for Doha on Friday.

The U.S.-led talks have encountered repeated setbacks during 15 months of war, which followed the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas militants on Israel. The assault killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and led to the abduction of about 250 individuals. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least one-third of them feared to be dead.

Casualty Toll Escalates

The Health Ministry in Gaza reports over 45,500 Palestinians have died since the conflict began, with women and children reportedly making up more than half the fatalities.

Israel claims to have killed 17,000 Hamas militants, though independent verification remains unavailable.

What People Are Saying

Director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University, Sami al-Arian, told news outlet Al Jazeera that with the resumption of truce talks in Qatar, Hamas may consider softening one of its primary demands—the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza: “There has been a lot of pressure from the mediators—particularly the Qataris and Egyptians—to be flexible on these terms. They have assured the resistance, Hamas and other groups, that potentially, eventually Israel will withdraw and stop the war, and there has to be some kind of movement.”

The Israeli military said it has followed international law and that it took: “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA said: “Enough misleading and killing of civilians. Every day without a ceasefire will bring more tragedy.”

What Happens Next

The outcome of resumed ceasefire negotiations could determine the trajectory of the conflict. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, compounded by ongoing violence, demands urgent international attention and resolution.

This article includes additional reporting from The Associated Press