Israel Strikes Gaza as Blinken Visits Region to Facilitate Ceasefire Talks

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza during the night resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals, including a mother and her six children. This escalation occurs as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in the region on Sunday. His mission aims to finalize a cease-fire agreement following prolonged negotiations.

Discussions among the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar appear to be nearing a proposed deal after two days of talks in Doha. American and Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism, but Hamas has indicated resistance to what they claim are new demands from Israel. These negotiations have faced repeated halts due to disagreements.

The proposed framework introduces a three-phase approach. It stipulates that Hamas would release all hostages taken during its assault on October 7, which initiated what is now recognized as the most deadly conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. In return, Israel would withdraw its military from Gaza and release Palestinian prisoners.

The mediators aim to bring an end to a devastating conflict that, according to local health authorities, has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths. The war has displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million populace of Gaza, leading to what experts warn may become a humanitarian disaster marked by famine and the potential resurgence of diseases such as polio.

On October 7, Hamas launched an attack that killed approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and resulted in the abduction of about 250 people. Israeli authorities believe around 110 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with indications that one-third may have perished. In November, over 100 hostages were released during a temporary cease-fire.

The recent waves of Israeli bombardment included an attack on a residence in Deir al-Balah, where a woman and her six children lost their lives, as reported by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. An Associated Press journalist counted the casualties at the facility.

Other strikes targeted residential buildings in Jabaliya, resulting in the deaths of two men, a woman, and her daughter, as noted by Gaza’s Health Ministry. In central Gaza, four individuals were killed in another strike, while a late Saturday attack near Khan Younis claimed the lives of four members of the same family, including two women, according to Nasser Hospital.

Israel asserts that its operations specifically target militants and attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, alleging that the militant group deliberately shields its fighters among the civilian population. Nonetheless, the prolonged airstrikes have led to the loss of entire families and left numerous children orphaned.

Efforts to de-escalate the situation have gained renewed urgency following the targeted killing of two prominent militants last month, actions attributed to Israel. These developments elicited vows of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns of a wider conflict across the Middle East.

As of Friday, a U.S. official indicated that mediators had begun preparations for the implementation of the latest cease-fire proposal. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has shared a sense of “cautious optimism” regarding the potential deal.

On Sunday, an Israeli delegation is expected to travel to Cairo for additional discussions, while Blinken plans to meet Netanyahu on Monday.

However, Hamas has cast doubt on the likelihood of an agreement, claiming that the new proposal significantly deviates from a prior agreement they had tentatively accepted. Among the contentious demands presented by Israel is an ongoing military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, as well as a checkpoint through Gaza for searches of returning Palestinians. Israel defends these measures as necessary to prevent the rearmament of militants.

In response, Israel has shown some flexibility regarding withdrawal from the border corridor. A meeting between military officials from Egypt and Israel is scheduled for the following week to negotiate details of a withdrawal mechanism, according to two anonymous Egyptian officials who were not authorized to speak on this matter.