Israel unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday, even as it signaled a willingness to revive long-stalled negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire and prisoner swap, aimed at halting the brutal conflict that has ravaged the region since October 7.
Gaza City was rocked by twin airstrikes in the pre-dawn hours, leaving 26 people dead, including 15 children, according to the Gaza Strip’s civil defence agency, which painted a grim picture of the attack’s aftermath.
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency, revealed that a deadly airstrike targeted a residential building in Al-Daraj, killing 16 family members, and another strike hit a mosque complex, claiming 10 additional lives in the tragic incident.
In the face of mounting criticism, the Israeli military remained tight-lipped, refusing to provide an immediate comment or explanation for their recent actions.
Gaza’s Jabalia and Rafah neighborhoods witnessed brutal street fighting, with Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s military wings claiming responsibility for launching mortar attacks on Israeli troops, heightening the violence.
International pressure for a ceasefire has mounted on Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as three European countries said Wednesday they would recognise a Palestinian state.
The week started with the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor seeking arrest warrants on war crimes charges against Netanyahu and his defence minister as well as three Hamas leaders.
Israel has angrily rejected those moves, voicing “disgust” over the ICC request and labelling any recognition of Palestinian statehood a “reward for terrorism”.
Senior foreign ministry official Jacob Blitstein told the envoys of Ireland, Norway and Spain on Thursday that there will be “serious consequences” for their relations with Israel after they recognise the State of Palestine next week.
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But domestic pressure has also risen as supporters of hostages trapped in Gaza again rallied outside Netanyahu’s office, passionately demanding a deal to bring them home.
A shocking video has come to light, revealing the harrowing plight of five female Israeli soldiers, bound and some with bloodied faces, at the hands of Palestinian militants during a violent attack that occurred over seven months ago.
A graphic three-minute clip, recorded from a militant’s body camera perspective, was unveiled by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum on Wednesday, after the Israeli military finally lifted its censorship, exposing the brutal nature of the conflict.
“The footage reveals the violent, humiliating and traumatising treatment the girls endured on the day of their abduction, their eyes filled with raw terror,” the forum said.
Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting Hamas to “ensure what we have seen tonight never happens again”.
In a bid to break the stalemate, the war cabinet has instructed the Israeli negotiating team to maintain their efforts to negotiate the release of the hostages, emphasizing the urgency of finding a resolution to this sensitive issue.
Al-Qahera News, an Egyptian news source with links to the intelligence services, indicated that Israel’s current position is not enough to secure an agreement, but the outlet chose not to provide additional context or clarification.