Israeli warplanes and tanks continued heavy bombardment of eastern Gaza City overnight, killing at least 11 people, according to witnesses and medical sources. The strikes come ahead of expected talks in Cairo, where senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya is due to meet mediators in a bid to revive a stalled US-backed ceasefire plan.
The last round of indirect negotiations in Qatar ended in late July without progress, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of derailing a proposed 60-day truce and hostage exchange. Israel has since warned it will launch a fresh offensive to seize full control of Gaza City — a territory it captured early in the war that erupted in October 2023, only to withdraw later as militants regrouped and waged guerrilla-style resistance.
READ ALSO: Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Defends Immigration Remarks Amid Widespread Criticism
It remains unclear how long a new incursion into the largely devastated city could last, or how it would differ from the previous operation.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand military control over Gaza, expected to begin in October, has intensified global criticism over the humanitarian toll — including mass destruction, widespread hunger, and the displacement of over two million residents, many of whom are now homeless.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Violent Clashes Erupt in Montcada i Reixac as Locals Confront Migrant Squatters
Inside Israel, the strategy has also drawn concern. The military’s chief of staff has cautioned that the planned offensive could endanger remaining hostages and create deadly risks for Israeli soldiers. Humanitarian groups warn that renewed fighting could trigger further suffering for an estimated one million Palestinians still living in the Gaza City region.
Be the first to know. Tap to join us on Telegram.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.