Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill Dozens as Ceasefire Talks Prepare to Resume

Intense airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 36 Palestinians on Saturday. This occurred as diplomatic efforts progressed towards high-level cease-fire talks in Egypt.

Among the casualties were 11 members of one family, including two children, who lost their lives when an Israeli strike hit their home in the city of Khan Younis early on Saturday. The tragic events were reported by Nasser Hospital, where the deceased and the wounded were taken.

The hospital confirmed a total of 33 fatalities due to three separate airstrikes in and around Khan Younis. Additionally, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported receiving three more bodies from an earlier strike.

A separate strike hit a road south of Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals, including passengers in a tuk-tuk and other pedestrians, according to Nasser Hospital. Another strike aimed at a tuk-tuk east of Khan Younis left at least five people dead.

The Israeli military has stated it is investigating the reports but has not provided immediate comments on the incidents.

As the airstrikes continued, mediators in Cairo were working diligently to facilitate high-level talks on a potential cease-fire that are scheduled for Sunday. The discussions are being facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.

A senior U.S. delegation, which includes Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East adviser, and CIA Director William Burns, traveled to Cairo after resuming discussions on how a cease-fire could be implemented in Gaza. This round of talks, which began on Thursday, involved mediators from both Egypt and Israel.

An Israeli delegation that arrived on Thursday included David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the director of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, and Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, a top military general.

On Friday, the White House characterized the talks as constructive, noting progress had been made without disclosing specific details.

A Hamas delegation is expected to reach Cairo on Saturday to receive updates from the mediators, although a senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Merdawy, emphasized that the militant group will not participate directly in the talks on Sunday. Instead, they will be briefed by Egyptian and Qatari officials.

The U.S. has proposed a bridging plan aimed at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas amidst rising pressure for a cease-fire and increasing fears of a broader regional conflict. This comes on the heels of recent targeted killings of leaders from both Hamas and Hezbollah, organizations that Israel has been accused of striking.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed in a recent two-hour conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel had consented to the U.S. plan. This plan outlines a detailed schedule for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to implement certain withdrawals. However, following their conversation, Netanyahu publicly issued remarks that appeared to contradict this agreement.

President Biden also reached out to Netanyahu on Wednesday, underscoring the critical need for a cease-fire and the release of hostages. He later discussed this situation with leaders from Qatar and Egypt.

While the U.S. remains optimistic about the “bridging” proposal it presented last week, implementation details for several key technical issues remain complex and challenging.

A significant point of contention in negotiations has been the management of the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt and the Netzarim corridor running east-west through the territory. Hamas is demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, whereas Netanyahu has asserted that Israeli control over these corridors is indispensable.

Last week, Hamas political official Bassem Naim indicated that the initial proposal unfairly adopted Netanyahu’s demands, allowing Israeli forces to maintain control over both the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors.

As preparations continue for the upcoming talks, Merdawy has confirmed that Hamas’s stance aligns with earlier drafts proposing the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza began on October 7 when Hamas and other militant groups launched a surprise attack against Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily among civilians. Around 250 individuals were kidnapped and taken into Gaza as hostages. While over 100 hostages were released during the cease-fire last year, Israeli officials estimate that about 110 hostages are still being held, with around a third believed to have died.

As part of its retaliatory campaign, Israel’s military actions have claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians, as reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its toll. The conflict has left widespread devastation and forced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to evacuate their homes.