Daijiworld Media Network – Gaza
Gaza, Jul 5: Hamas on Friday said it is holding consultations with other Palestinian factions over a new ceasefire proposal, as Israel’s relentless military offensive in Gaza claimed the lives of over 50 people, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
The development comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Washington on Monday, where US President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the 21-month-long war.
The conflict erupted after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting a massive Israeli military campaign aimed at dismantling the group and rescuing hostages.
A Palestinian source told AFP that the latest mediation proposal includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release half of the remaining Israeli hostages—believed to be 22— in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Of the 251 hostages taken during the October attack, 49 are still believed to be in Gaza, with 27 presumed dead, according to Israeli authorities.
Netanyahu, under mounting domestic pressure, reaffirmed his commitment to bringing back all hostages. “I feel a deep commitment to ensure the return of all our abductees,” he said.
Trump, addressing the crisis, stated: “I want safety for the people of Gaza. They’ve gone through hell.”
Israeli military operations continued across the Gaza Strip, targeting suspected Hamas strongholds in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah.
Civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir reported that 52 people were killed on Friday, including five shot while waiting for aid near US-run sites. Eight people, including a child, died in an airstrike on a tent camp near Khan Yunis, while others were killed in separate attacks along the coast.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, mourners gathered for 16 victims killed near an aid centre on Thursday. Among them was Abdullah Hammad, a former employee of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), marking the 12th MSF worker killed in the war.
“We demand an end to this bloodshed,” MSF said.
The war has displaced over two million people and led to a humanitarian disaster. The UN has warned of famine as deadly incidents continue near aid distribution points.
Since October 7, 2023, over 57,268 Palestinians—mostly civilians—have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel’s toll stands at 1,219, also mostly civilians. The United Nations recognises the Gaza death toll as credible.