Ceasefire Talks Continue Amid Gaza Airstrikes, Hostage Pleas/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ At least 14 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes Friday as Hamas reviews a proposed ceasefire brokered by the U.S. Israel has already approved the deal, but Hamas has responded cautiously. Hostage families are pleading for an agreement that ensures all captives return home.
Gaza Ceasefire Proposal: Quick Looks
- Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in Gaza Friday, amid ongoing ceasefire discussions.
- Hamas is reviewing a new truce proposal, brokered by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and already approved by Israel.
- The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation claims to have distributed 2 million meals, though chaos and gunfire were reported at aid sites.
- Hostage families urged Israeli PM Netanyahu to accept a deal that ensures the release of all 58 remaining hostages.
- Hamas called the draft deal problematic, accusing it of extending Israeli control, but agreed to examine the terms.
- Shifa Hospital in Jabaliya and Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City reported multiple civilian casualties from the strikes.
- Netanyahu, who recently underwent a routine colonoscopy, insists the war won’t end without hostage returns and Hamas’s defeat.
Deep Look: Ceasefire Talks Continue as Gaza Casualties Mount and Hostage Families Plead for Action
GAZA CITY — As the humanitarian crisis deepens in the Gaza Strip, Hamas is reviewing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, even as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 Palestinians on Friday. The ongoing conflict — now approaching its eighth month — shows no sign of abating despite international efforts to negotiate a truce.
The ceasefire plan, spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, received Israeli approval earlier this week. The deal is structured to pause fighting temporarily, allow for the release of hostages, and increase the flow of critical humanitarian aid into Gaza.
But Hamas has responded coolly so far, claiming the current proposal may prolong “Israel’s policies of killing and starvation.” Still, a Hamas spokesperson said the group is carefully reviewing the offer, a signal that negotiations may yet gain traction.
Rising Death Toll Amid Talks
Despite the diplomacy, the situation on the ground remains dire.
Hospital officials reported that 12 bodies, including those of three women, were brought to Shifa Hospital in the Jabaliya refugee camp. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society added that two more were killed and nine others injured, including a doctor at Al-Quds Hospital.
The Gaza Health Ministry now estimates more than 54,000 deaths since the war began — many of them women and children — with no clear distinction between combatants and civilians in the count.
The war erupted after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and triggered a massive military response.
Humanitarian Foundation Faces Criticism
Meanwhile, the newly launched Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) claimed to have distributed over 2 million meals in its first week. But aid workers and eyewitnesses describe chaotic, dangerous conditions at distribution hubs, including gunfire from Israeli troops trying to control crowds.
The GHF acknowledged the criticism and said it was adapting its model to deliver aid more effectively and safely. It also announced plans to expand operations, particularly in northern Gaza.
Hostage Families Plead for Inclusion in Ceasefire
As the ceasefire talks continue, families of hostages still held in Gaza are demanding that any agreement prioritize their return.
Of the 58 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only a third are thought to be alive, according to Israeli intelligence estimates. The rest are either presumed dead or their status remains unknown.
Ayelet Samerano, whose son’s body is among those believed to be held in Gaza, expressed frustration over the slow pace of the negotiations.
“We’re again left wondering: Will it be my son? Will it not be? What happens to those not included in this round?” she said.
She urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire deal if it guarantees all hostages are released, adding that “the families say yes, the country says yes — now he must say yes.”
Netanyahu’s Stance Remains Firm
Netanyahu, who underwent a routine colonoscopy Friday, has publicly reiterated that the war will not end until all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled or sent into exile.
His health, which came into focus last year after prostate surgery, remains a sensitive issue amid growing political and military pressures. However, his office provided no specifics on whether the colonoscopy involved sedation or general anesthesia.
Despite health setbacks and legal challenges — including an ongoing corruption trial — Netanyahu has emphasized a public image of strength and resilience.
Looking Ahead
The future of the ceasefire hinges on Hamas’s official response to the U.S.-backed plan. The deal reportedly includes a phased release of hostages, return of deceased hostages’ bodies, and a temporary truce that could pave the way for long-term peace discussions.
If accepted, the agreement could significantly reduce tensions and address the urgent humanitarian needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom face malnutrition and displacement due to the Israeli blockade.
Still, deep divisions remain between both parties. Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel maintains it won’t stop until Hamas is rendered militarily ineffective.
The world now watches — again — to see if a breakthrough is possible, or if Gaza’s suffering will continue.
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