Israeli Strikes Kill 10 Palestinians in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Talks

Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of 10 Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank, as tensions continued to rise amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Six individuals were killed in central and southern Gaza, while four others, including an elderly woman, were killed in Jenin, West Bank, according to reports from Al Jazeera.

The Israeli military claimed its air force targeted "terrorists engaged in suspicious activities" in central Gaza, describing them as posing a threat to Israeli forces.

The violence comes as Arab mediators, along with the United States, attempt to broker a resolution to the differences between Hamas and Israel following a ceasefire agreement reached on January 19. Israel dispatched a delegation to Doha, Qatar for further talks, while Hamas leaders recently concluded discussions in Cairo. However, reports indicate that no significant breakthrough has been made, heightening concerns about the potential for renewed conflict, according to Reuters.

Since January 19, a temporary truce has held in Gaza. Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. A second phase of talks, which Hamas hopes will result in a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, remains stalled. Israel insists that Hamas must free all remaining hostages before the second phase of negotiations can begin.

Hamas has accused Israel of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by continuing to block the entry of aid and severing the last working electricity line to the enclave. The disruption has severely impacted essential services, including a water desalination plant and sewage treatment facilities. In a statement, Hamas urged mediators to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations by reopening the crossings to allow the flow of humanitarian aid and end the blockade, which they say constitutes collective punishment against Gaza’s population.

Earlier this month, Israel halted the entry of food, medicine, and fuel into Gaza as a pressure tactic during ceasefire talks. In addition, on Sunday, Israel implemented an electricity cut, a move that humanitarian organizations warn will leave Gazans without clean water.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces have been carrying out a large-scale military operation in Jenin since the ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. The operation has led to the destruction of homes and infrastructure, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians in northern areas of the West Bank, according to the Associated Press.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas reignited after a cross-border raid by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.