Israel pounds Gaza City as a planned takeover looms, with 123 killed in the last 24 hours, while Hamas mediators hold talks with Egypt
Israel pushed heavy bombardment on Gaza City overnight as troops prepare to re-enter the urban center, with the Gaza health ministry reporting 123 fatalities in the past day. The latest toll comes as Hamas engaged in further discussions with Egyptian mediators amid stalled diplomacy and ongoing fighting that has left Gaza’s two million residents facing a dire humanitarian crisis.
The 24-hour death figure is the highest in a week and adds to the mounting toll of a war now in its second year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a controversial proposal that has also been floated by U.S. President Donald Trump—that Palestinians should simply leave Gaza. He said those who claim to care for Palestinians should “open their gates and stop lecturing us,” a stance that drew sharp condemnation from Arabs and many world leaders who view forced displacement as a catastrophe akin to the Nakba of 1948.
Officials say the planned recapture of Gaza City is still weeks away, leaving room for a possible ceasefire, though talks have stalled as hostilities continue. Residents reported air and artillery strikes in eastern Gaza City, with neighborhoods such as Zeitoun and Shejaia hit hard and many homes destroyed overnight. In Zeitoun, an airstrike on a home near the Al-Ahli hospital killed 12 people, according to hospital officials. In Khan Younis, tanks destroyed several homes in the east, and in central Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed nine aid-seekers in separate incidents; the Israeli military did not provide immediate comment.
Amid the violence, the Gaza health ministry said eight more people died from starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 235 since the war began, including 106 children. The mounting humanitarian crisis has intensified calls from aid groups and international bodies for safe access to aid and protection of civilians.
Context from the broader region shows a pattern of shifting battlefield control coupled with intense diplomatic activity. Egyptian mediators and other international partners have been pressing for a ceasefire and for humanitarian corridors to reach civilians, even as hard-line positions persist on security, hostages, and the future status of Gaza. The international community continues to urge restraint, timely aid delivery, and renewed negotiations to prevent further civilian suffering.
Summary: As Gaza braces for what could be a major military operation in Gaza City, casualties mount daily and diplomacy remains fragile. The health ministry’s latest figures underscore the human cost of the conflict, while talks mediated by Egypt attempt to avert a broader crisis and secure relief for civilians amid divergent political stances from regional and global actors.
What to watch next:
– The status and potential outcome of ongoing talks with Egyptian mediators and any shift toward a ceasefire or humanitarian pause.
– Any movement on humanitarian aid corridors and access for aid workers to reach besieged areas.
– Developments around hostage negotiations and their potential linkage to a broader settlement.
– International reactions to proposals about displacement or new humanitarian arrangements in Gaza.
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