Dozens Dead as Fierce Battles Engulf Gaza City

The Gaza civil defense agency reported discovering around 60 bodies after Israeli troops withdrew from parts of Gaza City on Friday amid intense fighting in the region. This discovery came as international mediators worked to end the conflict that has now persisted for ten months.

At a NATO summit in Washington on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned that despite some setbacks, U.S. diplomats and other mediators were making “progress” toward achieving a ceasefire, emphasizing that “it’s time to end this war.”

The bodies were found in the Tal al-Hawa and Al-Sinaa districts, which Israeli forces had entered earlier in the week after ordering evacuations on Monday. Civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal stated that some people remain missing under the rubble of destroyed homes, complicating rescue efforts.

The Gaza health ministry reported 32 overnight deaths, mostly women and children. Israeli military activity focused on the Rafah area in the south, with troops reportedly engaging in close-quarters combat and aerial strikes against Hamas militants.

In Gaza City, heavy fighting devastated the Shujaiya district, with the Israeli army dropping leaflets urging residents to flee the “dangerous combat zone,” an area where the UN estimates up to 350,000 people are seeking shelter.

Local teacher Tariq Ghanem described significant destruction in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, with homes on fire and bodies left on the roads. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) highlighted the desperate situation, with entire families trapped and a massive need for humanitarian aid.

Negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages are ongoing, mediated by Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt. Talks continued in Doha on Wednesday, with Israel sending a delegation to Cairo for further discussions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that any agreement must allow Israel to achieve its war objectives, including destroying Hamas and recovering all hostages, while maintaining control of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.

President Biden outlined a proposed six-week truce that would involve the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons. This framework has reportedly been accepted by both Israel and Hamas, though gaps remain to be resolved.

Hamas has suggested forming an independent, non-partisan government for post-war Gaza and the West Bank. This proposal is part of broader discussions about Gaza’s future governance.

The conflict began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which allegedly resulted in 1,195 deaths and the abduction of 251 people, 116 of whom remain in Gaza. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has resulted in over 38,345 deaths in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.

The ongoing war has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with significant shortages of food and medical supplies. The World Health Organization reported that only five trucks with medical supplies entered Gaza last week, while over 70 more are awaiting entry.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged donor governments to resume funding for the U.N. agency aiding Palestinian refugees, warning that the agency will be unable to continue its operations beyond August without additional support. He described the situation in Gaza as pushing civilians into “deeper circles of hell.”