The Israeli military has initiated a comprehensive ground operation in Gaza, alongside an intense air campaign that health officials in the territory claim has resulted in over 100 fatalities overnight. This development comes as international mediators push for progress in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. According to reports, Hamas and Israel began indirect talks in Doha, Qatar’s capital, on Saturday, with senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nunu confirming “negotiations without preconditions.”
Despite some optimism surrounding the talks, a breakthrough appears uncertain. Israel has indicated its willingness to end the war in Gaza if Hamas surrenders, a proposition the militant group is unlikely to accept. Hamas has stated it will release all Israeli hostages if there are guarantees Israel will end the war. An Israeli source said, “If Hamas wants to talk about ending the war through Hamas’s surrender, we will be ready.”
Diverging Proposals and Contradictions
A senior Hamas leader initially told CNN the group agreed to release between seven and nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, another senior Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zuhri, contradicted this proposal, stating, “There is no truth to the rumors regarding the movement’s agreement to release nine Israeli prisoners in exchange for a two-month ceasefire.” Abu Zuhri emphasized that Hamas is “ready to release the prisoners all at once, provided the occupation commits to a cessation of hostilities under international guarantees.”
Humanitarian Crisis and Civilian Casualties
The UN and prominent aid organizations are sounding the alarm over Israel’s new offensive in Gaza, highlighting that civilians are bearing the brunt of the assault. According to a CNN count of Palestinian Ministry of Health data, more than 300 people have been killed and over 1,000 others injured since Israel ramped up intense airstrikes on Thursday. Entire families were killed while sleeping together, including an infant, his two young siblings, and their parents in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza.
Dr. Munir al-Barsh, the health ministry’s director, described the dire situation, while Dr. Marwan Al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, reported “extremely intense explosions” around the hospital, which severed connections to vital ventilators. The hospital is now “completely besieged,” with its intensive care unit being hit, Al-Sultan said, adding that the situation is “beyond alarming.”
Famine Risk and Aid Efforts
The UN warned that Gaza’s entire population of over 2.1 million people faces a risk of famine following 19 months of conflict and mass displacement. In response, Israel announced it would allow a “basic amount of food” to enter the Gaza Strip to prevent a hunger crisis. A US-backed organization, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, welcomed this decision as a “bridging mechanism” until the group is fully operational. However, top humanitarian officials have criticized the organization’s plan, warning it could endanger civilians and encourage forced displacement.
International Reactions and Concerns
US President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Middle East may have contributed to the restart of talks. Trump expressed his desire to end the “brutal war” in Gaza and proposed turning Gaza into a “freedom zone.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has denounced the Israeli operation, saying it would endanger those still held captive in the enclave. Hagai Levine, the head of the forum’s health team, stated, “The current policy is killing the living and erasing the dead. Every bombing, every delay, every indecision increases the danger.”