IRIA News

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas remain at an impasse, with no progress made towards ending the ongoing Gaza conflict, a senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, stated on June 29, 2024.

While speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Hamdan emphasized Hamas’ readiness to engage positively with any ceasefire proposal that would conclude the war. “Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and a serious swap deal,” he said, referencing a potential exchange of hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

Despite efforts by Arab mediators as well as the U.S., the negotiations have failed to yield a ceasefire so far. Hamas insists that any agreement must include a complete end to hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

On the other hand, Israel remains firm on only accepting temporary pauses in the fighting, contingent on the eradication of Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007. Hamdan criticized the United States for pressuring Hamas to accept Israeli terms.

Rising death toll

Since the start of the conflict on October 7, the violence has escalated significantly. The Israeli offensive operations in the Gaza Strip have led to more than 38,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, leaving the densely populated enclave in ruins.

On Saturday alone, Israeli military strikes killed at least 35 people and injured many others in Gaza, with operations focused on the Shejaia neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. Residents reported tanks advancing deeper into various districts amid heavy aerial and ground bombardments.

The Israeli military announced it had killed dozens of Hamas militants over the past week in Shejaia without providing specific details about its operation. Independent sources said that following intense close-quarters combat and air strikes, the majority of the casualties were civilians.

“In the area, the troops located observation posts, weapons, enemy drones, and a long-range rocket launcher near the schools,” the Israeli military stated, although Hamas denies using civilian areas for military operations.

In Rafah, southern Gaza, Israeli forces killed several Palestinians and forced many families to flee northwards. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 40 Palestinians killed and 224 wounded in the latest 24-hour period. Among those killed were four members of the al-Ghazi family, including a child, after Israeli forces targeted a water distribution point in Gaza City.

US has sent Israel thousands of 2,000-pound bombs

Since the war’s inception, the Biden administration has supplied Israel with large quantities of munitions, including more than 10,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles.

This support has continued despite global calls to limit weapon supplies and a recent decision to pause a shipment of powerful bombs. Experts highlight that these shipments are consistent with what Israel needs to replenish supplies used in the eight-month military campaign against Hamas.

The ongoing violence has also escalated tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The border between Israel and Lebanon has witnessed daily exchanges of fire since the conflict began. Israeli forces conducted a series of attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, with airstrikes reported on several sites early on Saturday.

According to an Israeli army spokesperson, the “warplanes attacked several Hezbollah targets, including a military site for the organization in the Zabqin area, two operational infrastructure sites in the Khiam area, and a Hezbollah building in the al-Adissa area.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, during a visit to troops near the northern border with Lebanon, underscored the preference for a political solution but also affirmed Israel’s preparedness for any scenario. “Hezbollah understands very well that we can inflict massive damage in Lebanon if a war is launched,” Gallant stated.

Amid the rising threat of broader regional conflict, several countries, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S., have advised their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon or to leave the country if already present. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation and humanitarian crises in the affected regions.