1. Ceasefire negotiations Israel rejection Rafah
2. Calls for peace Israel refusal Rafah.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Prospects for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear bleak as the United States has indicated its intention to veto a new UN Security Council resolution. Additionally, mediator Qatar has acknowledged that talks for a truce have hit a deadlock.
Efforts to halt the four-month-long conflict have been hampered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to spare Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, where a large number of civilians have taken refuge. The Israeli military’s relentless campaign to eradicate Hamas forces has brought the conflict perilously close to Rafah, with recent attacks resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Gazans.
The Gaza war, which began with an attack by Hamas on October 7, has claimed the lives of approximately 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians. The militants have also taken around 250 people hostage, with 130 individuals still in Gaza, including 30 who are presumed dead.
Egypt, a neighbouring country, is concerned that an Israeli assault on Rafah could lead to a mass exodus of trapped Gazans across the border. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has reiterated Egypt’s opposition to any forced displacement into the Sinai desert.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Netanyahu has vowed to proceed with his troops’ ground invasion of Rafah. He dismissed appeals from other countries, stating that they are essentially asking Israel to “lose the war.”
The situation has sparked protests in Israel, with thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanding an immediate election and accusing the government of abandoning hostages. The brother of a hostage, Ofer Calderon, urged politicians to prioritize the lives of their loved ones over political considerations.
The United States has voiced opposition to a new UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Instead, the US supports a truce-for-hostages deal that would pause fighting for six weeks. President Joe Biden has been actively involved in pushing for this deal through discussions with Netanyahu and other regional leaders.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Prime Minister has described the ongoing talks as “not very promising,” citing complications arising from demands for further releases of hostages. In response, Hamas has threatened to suspend its participation in the negotiations until relief supplies reach the north of Gaza, where aid agencies have warned of an imminent famine.
Hamas has reiterated its demands for a complete cessation of hostilities, the release of prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Netanyahu has rejected pressure from Western governments for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, citing the need to prevent future acts of terrorism.
In a distressing development, Israel has detained 100 people from a functioning hospital in Gaza after troops conducted a raid on the premises. Patients and medical staff at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis are now facing dire conditions without access to essential supplies.
The power outage following the raid has led to the deaths of several patients due to a lack of oxygen. Witnesses have reported indiscriminate shooting by Israeli forces inside the hospital, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
As the conflict intensifies, the UN has warned of a looming famine in Gaza, with residents resorting to desperate measures to secure food. Aid deliveries are being impeded by hungry Palestinians in Rafah, who are intercepting trucks to obtain much-needed supplies. The situation remains precarious, with no immediate resolution in sight..
“ceasefire prospects”
“Israel rejects calls to spare Rafah”.
