GAZA STRIP: According to Egyptian state television, Israeli and Hamas negotiations for a cease-fire resumed in Cairo on Sunday, amid deadly bombings targeting the Gaza Strip.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution last Monday calling for a “immediate ceasefire,” the humanitarian catastrophe worsened as fierce combat continued throughout the beleaguered Palestinian area, including in or near multiple hospitals.
As part of a tiny armada, another aid ship was en route from the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus to deliver 400 tonnes of food relief to the 2.4 million Palestinians living in Gaza. Foreign nations have increased their relief airdrops, but charities and UN organizations caution that this is significantly less than what is desperately needed.
The health ministry reports that at least 77 Palestinians were killed overnight in fresh Israeli ground operations and airstrikes, the majority of whom were women and children. This brings the total number of Palestinian deaths to 32,782.
Netanyahu will have a hernia operation; fighting near Gaza hospitals claims 200 lives in 13 days.
Between Israel and the US, which is its main ally, tensions have increased because to the rising number of civilian deaths. In particular, Israel has threatened to send ground forces into Rafah, a city located far to the south of Gaza.
Despite this, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed officials, that Washington had recently approved billion-dollar weapons and fighter jets for Israel.
Netanyahu granted approval for a fresh round of ceasefire negotiations to be held in Doha and Cairo on Friday, giving in to tremendous demand for one.
The negotiations will go back up in Cairo on Sunday, according to Al-Qahera, an Egyptian TV station. “An Egyptian security source verified to Al-Qahera News the restart of talks on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Egyptian capital Cairo,” an anchor stated.
Israeli protestors against the Netanyahu government gathered outside the Jerusalem Knesset on Sunday night once more. According to the organizers, they intended to repeat these demonstrations every night until Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s procedure
However, Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli prime minister’s office, said on Sunday that he will have a hernia operation, adding that he will be completely sedated.
The premier’s office announced that Yariv Levin, the deputy prime minister and minister of justice, will assume the role of prime minister while the 74-year-old is undergoing surgery.
Following discussions, the decision was taken for the prime to have surgery following his regular schedule after the doctors found the hernia on Saturday during a routine checkup, according to his office.
Conflicts close to hospitals
As Israel forces claimed that Hamas was hiding within the hospitals and in tunnels beneath them, massive artillery and gunfire rocked the vicinity of many Gaza hospitals. About 200 Hamas members are claimed to have died in the last 13 days as a result of the IDF’s ongoing efforts to eradicate the group from the area surrounding Gaza City’s main hospital, Al-Shifa.
According to the Gaza health ministry, the army had abandoned efforts to evacuate the 107 patients—including 30 disabled patients—who were still inside Al-Shifa.
There are currently only 10 “minimally functioning” hospitals in Gaza, down from 36 last year, the WHO has warned. In order to receive emergency care, 9,000 people must leave Gaza, according to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
