Israel Launches Airstrikes in Southern Gaza Amid Scheduled Cairo Truce Talks with Hamas Officials

Egypt is set to host a crucial meeting with a high-level Hamas delegation this Friday, aiming to negotiate an end to the nearly 12-week conflict with Israel that has heavily affected the Gaza Strip. Amidst ongoing combat in Gaza’s southern and central regions, this Cairo discussion follows Hamas’s fatal attack on Israel on October 7.

Recently, Israeli bombardment near a hospital in southern Gaza resulted in 41 deaths over two days, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The strikes, occurring near Al-Amal hospital in Khan Yunis, have affected displaced individuals seeking refuge.

The United Nations humanitarian office has noted a surge in displaced people reaching Rafah, a densely populated city near the southern border. This influx is a result of intensified fighting around Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis.

The Israeli military has announced an expansion of operations in Khan Yunis, claiming to have eliminated numerous militants across Gaza within the last 24 hours. Recent footage from Rafah shows smoke arising from fresh strikes.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza stated that Israeli shelling in the Shaboura camp in Rafah killed 20 people, predominantly women and children.

The ongoing conflict has left northern Gaza largely in ruins and shifted the battlefront increasingly southward, escalating tensions across the Middle East. Israel, branding Hamas a “terrorist” organization by the United States and European Union, seeks retribution for the October attack that resulted in approximately 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians. During this attack, about 250 hostages were taken, with more than half still captive.

Israeli military actions in Gaza, including aerial bombardment and ground invasion, have led to over 21,320 deaths, mainly women and children, as per the local health ministry. The Israeli army reports the death of 168 of its soldiers in Gaza.

Sources familiar with Hamas indicate that Egypt’s proposed three-stage plan includes renewable ceasefires, a phased release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and an eventual war termination.

In addition to intensified air and artillery strikes, the Israeli army has deployed an additional brigade to Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamas’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant underscored the unprecedented nature of these operations.

Israel’s primary goal remains the return of the 129 hostages still believed to be in Gaza. An Israeli kibbutz community recently revealed the death of a US-Israeli captive, Judith Weinstein Haggai, during the October 7 attack, contrary to previous beliefs. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his devastation over her death, committing to work with Israel for the return of the remaining hostages.

In Gaza, the United Nations reports that over 80% of the territory’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced. Many now reside in shelters or makeshift tents around Rafah. A recent airstrike in Rafah led to several casualties, with residents searching through rubble for survivors.

The Israeli siege, following years of blockade, has led to severe shortages in Gaza, sporadically alleviated by humanitarian aid mainly entering through Egypt. Israel has approved Cyprus’s proposal to ship aid to Gaza via a maritime corridor.

Regarding the Cairo meeting, a Hamas official stated that the delegation would convey the Palestinian factions’ response to Egypt’s proposal, including several observations and a demand for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. The plan also involves the formation of a Palestinian government of technocrats post-war, responsible for governing and rebuilding Gaza.

In Israel, a rally in Tel Aviv drew hundreds of protesters calling for a ceasefire, emphasizing the shared right to life, freedom, sovereignty, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians.

The conflict in Gaza has also intensified tensions between Israel and Iran, a backer of armed groups across the Middle East. Israel has engaged in cross-border fire with Iran-supported Hezbollah since the war began and has struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon following rocket fire from the area.