Diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza faced a setback as Hamas rejected the “new conditions” in a ceasefire proposal presented during talks in Qatar by US-led mediators. Despite the prolonged talks, the suffering endured over more than ten months of war continues, prompting US President Joe Biden to send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel for further discussions on the latest proposal.
Efforts by Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators to finalize a framework for the ceasefire have been ongoing. The proposal aims to bridge remaining gaps between both sides and includes negotiations on humanitarian provisions and a hostage-prisoner swap. However, Hamas swiftly opposed the “new conditions” from Israel in the latest plan, raising obstacles to the process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on mediators to “pressure” Hamas to accept the proposed framework, while threats by Iran and its proxies to attack Israel added urgency to the ceasefire efforts. However, Hamas objected to conditions related to keeping Israeli troops on Gaza’s border with Egypt and terms related to the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.
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The international community expressed concern over the situation, with warnings of “cataclysmic” consequences for Iran should it strike Israel. Meanwhile, a deadly attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank drew condemnation and led to calls for sanctions against government ministers over the surge in settler violence against Palestinians since the Gaza war began.
Amidst these developments, the Palestinian health ministry reported the first case of polio in Gaza in 25 years, further highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the region. The WHO had called for two seven-day breaks in the Gaza war to vaccinate over 640,000 children against poliovirus. Additionally, thousands of civilians were forced to evacuate ahead of imminent military action, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
