Prospects for resuming mediated Gaza ceasefire talks increased on Saturday, despite new Israeli attacks that Palestinian medics said killed over 40 people.
An official familiar with the situation said negotiations would likely restart next week after the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met with the CIA director and Qatar’s prime minister. The source, who requested anonymity, stated that “negotiations will open based on new proposals led by mediators Egypt and Qatar, with active U.S. involvement.”
A Hamas official, however, denied Israeli media claims that talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday, telling Reuters: “There is no date.”
The conflict in Gaza has persisted for over seven months, with mediators struggling to broker a breakthrough. Israel demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, while Hamas seeks an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Israel continued its offensive in Gaza following an order from the top United Nations court on Friday to cease attacks on Gaza’s southern city. Israel aims to eliminate Hamas militants in Rafah and rescue hostages, but the assault has worsened civilian suffering and drawn international condemnation.
In northern Gaza, where the Israeli military seeks to prevent Hamas from regaining control, Palestinian medical workers reported new Israeli airstrikes that killed at least 17 people. Abu Mohammad, taking shelter with his family at a school in Gaza City’s Saftawi suburb, described an Israeli missile strike that killed several people: “We were sitting peacefully, then there was a boom… Even schools are not safe anymore.”
The Israeli military said it was investigating the report.
Palestinian medics reported that 45 Palestinians had been killed across Gaza in the past day. The death toll, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has reached nearly 36,000 since the start of Israel’s offensive.
