Despite promising talks for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a devastating Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah killed two women and four young children. The tragedy occurred as negotiators in Doha worked towards a deal that would see the release of hostages and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal. While optimism prevails, concerns remain about the agreement's viability, given past setbacks and the opposition from hardline factions within Israel.
Despite ongoing peace negotiations, a devastating Israeli airstrike on Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Monday night resulted in the tragic deaths of two women and four children. The attack occurred as reports indicated that Israel and Hamas were on the verge of a ceasefire agreement, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that the talks were 'right on the brink.
' According to Israeli media and Qatari sources, the potential deal involved an initial release of 33 Israeli hostages, including children, women, the elderly, and those with medical conditions, along with the freedom of up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The agreement also proposed a partial Israeli troop withdrawal for a duration of 60 days, with further negotiations after 16 days to address the release of the remaining 61 Israeli hostages, including military-age men, and the return of the deceased. A full Israeli military withdrawal was slated for the second phase. Envoys representing both the Biden White House and the incoming Trump administration were actively involved in what was described as a 'final round' of talks, meeting with delegations from Israel, Egypt, and Qatar. President-elect Donald Trump, whose envoy Steve Witkoff participated in the Doha negotiations, expressed confidence that a peace deal could be finalized, potentially halting the ongoing conflict that had claimed at least 45,000 Palestinian lives and left Gaza's 2.3 million residents facing dire humanitarian conditions. Despite these optimistic developments, Blinken acknowledged that a final agreement had not yet been reached, stating, 'It's closer than it's ever been before, but, right now, as we sit here, we await final word.' He outlined a vision for a postwar settlement involving unified Palestinian leadership over Gaza and the West Bank under a reformed Palestinian Authority and urged Israel to cease the expansion of settlements. Israel, however, has not yet agreed to these conditions.Blinken's plan envisions substantial international and Arab involvement, potentially including troop deployments to ensure security and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery. The Pentagon, meanwhile, revealed that Trump's team was driving the negotiations, with Biden and his administration playing a supporting role. Blinken's assessment suggested that Hamas had effectively replenished its ranks despite significant losses. While optimism prevailed, the possibility of the agreement falling apart remained a concern. Previous apparent breakthroughs had failed to end the 15-month war due to opposition from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government or obstruction from Hamas. The militant group, currently led by Mohammed Sinwar, brother of the former Hamas chief responsible for the October 7th attacks, faced threats from both Israel and internal factions. Despite the ongoing talks, the situation in Gaza remained volatile. Two Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah on Monday night targeted civilian areas, resulting in the deaths of two women and four children, ranging in age from one month to nine years old. Further airstrikes in Khan Younis claimed the lives of another 12 individuals. Adding to the tension, Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly denounced the potential agreement, asserting that he and other far-right members of the coalition had repeatedly blocked ceasefires. He urged fellow hardliner Bezalel Smotrich to join him in withdrawing from the coalition if Netanyahu accepted the deal. Smotrich, head of a ruling coalition party, denounced the agreement as a 'surrender' and warned of impending catastrophe for Israel's national security
GAZA ISRAELI Airstrikes HAMAS CEASEFIRE HOSTAGES PEACE TALKS INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HUMANITARIAN CRISIS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
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