On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel blamed each other for not reaching a ceasefire deal, even though they had made some progress in talks. Hamas claimed Israel added new demands about withdrawing troops, a ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of displaced people, which slowed down the agreement. Hamas also mentioned they were being flexible and that mediators from Qatar and Egypt were working seriously on the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was lying and going back on earlier agreements. He promised to keep working hard to bring back all hostages.
After a week of significant talks, Israeli negotiators returned from Qatar for discussions about a hostage deal. Meanwhile, Israel continued its military actions in the Gaza Strip, with reports of at least 24 people killed in airstrikes on Wednesday. One strike hit a school where families were taking shelter, according to medics.
The Israeli military, however, stated they were targeting Hamas fighters throughout the area. Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that Israeli forces surrounded the only three hospitals in the northern region, making it difficult for them to operate. For two days, Israeli troops were near the Kamal Adwan Hospital, a busy place due to ongoing fighting.
Palestinians accuse Israel of trying to clear out the northern part of Gaza to create a safe area, which Israel denies. This fighting began after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, more than 45,200 Palestinians have died due to Israel’s actions in Gaza, where most buildings are damaged and many people are now homeless.
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