Smoke rises following an Israeli army bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, southern Israel. AP
The attacks came as Israel and Hamas entered indirect negotiations in Egypt on a US-brokered ceasefire proposal marking two years since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
Hospitals in the enclave reported receiving six bodies at Al-Shifa Hospital, two at Nasser, one at Al-Amal and another at Al-Aqsa, following intense overnight bombardment from tanks, jets and naval fire in Gaza City and Khan Younis.
Despite the renewed diplomatic push for a ceasefire, residents said there was no let-up in air strikes and artillery fire, according to Reuters.
The talks, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, focus on Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and a phased end to hostilities under Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which also calls for the release of captives and the resumption of aid flows into the besieged enclave.
An umbrella of Palestinian factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others, marked the anniversary by reaffirming that “resistance by all means is the only way to confront the Zionist enemy,” rejecting any compromise over Palestinian weapons.
Israel’s ongoing war, waged by air, land and sea since October 2023, has killed at least 67,160 people and wounded nearly 170,000 — most of them women and children — and left Gaza in ruins.
The blockade has pushed the territory into famine, claiming 411 lives, including 108 children, and leaving tens of thousands severely malnourished.
The UN’s Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
While both Israel and Hamas have endorsed the broad outlines of Trump’s plan — backed by Arab and Western governments — prospects for an immediate ceasefire remain uncertain as Israeli forces continue their offensive across the strip.
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