Israel bombs Gaza as mediators discuss truce-hostage plan

Israel launched heavy airstrikes on central Gaza on Wednesday, while U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators prepared to restart discussions on a truce and a deal for hostage release.

In East Jerusalem, tensions were high as thousands of police guarded Israel’s annual “flag march,” which has previously led to clashes between Jews and Arabs.

The intense Gaza conflict, ignited by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, continued with Israeli jets striking targets overnight, resulting in more reported casualties.

Urban combat and shelling erupted in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border. Meanwhile, fighting has also intensified in central Gaza, where the Israeli army reported targeted operations in the Bureij and eastern Deir al-Balah areas, focusing on both surface and underground targets. Several Hamas militants were reportedly killed in these operations.

The bombardment in central Gaza killed 11 people near the Al-Maghazi camp and two near Deir al-Balah. Civilians were seen fleeing, with many transporting their belongings on pickup trucks and wheelchairs.

Almost eight months into the war, the death toll and destruction in Gaza have caused global outrage. UN data indicates that more than half of all buildings in Gaza are either destroyed or damaged.

**Renewed Mediation Efforts**

President Joe Biden presented a three-phase plan to end the conflict, which includes a six-week halt to fighting, hostage exchanges, and increased aid. G7 nations and Arab states support this proposal, but Hamas demands a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal, conditions Israel has rejected.

Biden urged Hamas to accept the deal and has sent CIA Director Bill Burns to Qatar to help mediate. Brett McGurk, Biden’s top Middle East adviser, is also headed to Qatar to push for an agreement.

Egyptian media reported that an Egyptian delegation would meet with Qatari and U.S. officials in Doha to discuss truce mechanisms.

**East Jerusalem Tensions**

In East Jerusalem, Israeli police deployed 3,000 officers for the annual march commemorating Israel’s capture of the Old City in the 1967 war. The event often heightens Israeli-Palestinian tensions. In 2021, Hamas launched rockets towards Jerusalem during the march, sparking a 12-day conflict.

The current Gaza war began with Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed 1,194 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,550 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

**International and Domestic Challenges**

Israel faces growing international criticism and legal challenges, while tensions have risen between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite the U.S. being Israel’s top ally, Biden has criticized Netanyahu, suggesting that prolonging the war could be politically motivated.

In summary, the situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing military actions, complex negotiations, and significant international and domestic pressure on all parties involved.