Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza, Kill 60 Amid Ceasefire Negotiations Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Militants killed five Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza as Israeli airstrikes left 60 Palestinians dead. Talks between Netanyahu and Trump inch toward a possible ceasefire, though major sticking points remain. Meanwhile, Gaza’s health system nears collapse under relentless conflict.
Gaza Conflict Quick Looks
- Five Israeli soldiers killed in Beit Hanoun, Gaza
- Militants used explosive devices, opened fire on troops
- Israeli strikes kill 60 Palestinians, including children
- Netanyahu-Trump meeting focuses on ceasefire plans
- Over 57,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023 war
- Gaza health system on brink of collapse
- Ceasefire talks center on hostages and end of war terms
Deep Look
Militants Kill Five Israeli Soldiers as Israeli Strikes Leave 51 Palestinians Dead in Gaza
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — In a dramatic spike in violence, militants in northern Gaza killed five Israeli soldiers while Israeli airstrikes killed at least 60 Palestinians on Tuesday, intensifying a war now dragging into its 21st month.
The latest fatalities occurred even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss a proposed ceasefire aimed at pausing the fierce hostilities. While no concrete breakthrough emerged, officials hinted that significant progress has been made toward a deal.
According to a senior Israeli official, negotiators have resolved around 80-90% of key details, suggesting a final agreement might be reached within days. However, the deaths of the soldiers could increase pressure on Netanyahu to secure an end to the conflict, as Israeli polls indicate widespread support for halting the fighting.
Deadly Attack in Beit Hanoun
The Israeli military confirmed that the five soldiers were killed when explosive devices were detonated against troops during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza, a region where Israeli forces have repeatedly clashed with regrouping militants.
An Israeli security official said militants not only detonated the explosives but also opened fire on soldiers attempting to evacuate the wounded. Fourteen other soldiers were injured in the attack, with two in critical condition. The cumulative death toll for Israeli soldiers has now reached 888 since the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, sparked the current conflict.
Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, declared on social media that the attack was a fresh blow to what he labeled a “weak” Israeli army. In response, Netanyahu extended his condolences, calling the soldiers’ deaths part of the ongoing effort to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
Palestinian Civilians Caught in Strikes
Meanwhile, Palestinian health officials reported grim scenes in southern and central Gaza. Strikes in Khan Younis, where many displaced families have taken refuge in tents, killed four people. Another strike in the city claimed four lives from a single family—a mother, father, and two children.
Nisma al-Baiouk, whose brother was among the dead, described the horror of retrieving her nephew’s body. “My nephew Awda has no face, his face is gone,” she said, underscoring the war’s toll on civilians.
Nasser Hospital recorded at least 41 fatalities on Tuesday alone. In central Gaza’s Nuseirat area, Israeli strikes killed an additional ten people and injured 72, according to medical officials at Awda Hospital.
The Israeli military did not issue immediate comments on the strikes but has consistently argued that Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties, accusing militants of operating from densely populated neighborhoods.
Gaza’s Healthcare in Crisis
The relentless bombardment has pushed Gaza’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The Palestine Red Crescent reported that the Al-Zaytoun Medical Clinic in Gaza City shut down after nearby shelling, leaving thousands of civilians without access to medical services or child vaccinations.
Ceasefire Negotiations
President Trump has expressed a strong desire to bring the Gaza war to an end, especially after the region’s volatile clashes with Iran last month. The White House aims for a 60-day pause in hostilities, increased humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the release of at least some of the 50 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas. Of those, Netanyahu has confirmed that 20 are alive.
Yet negotiations remain mired in a central disagreement: Hamas insists it will free all hostages only in exchange for a full end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu, however, refuses to conclude the war without Hamas’s surrender, disarmament, and exile—conditions Hamas has firmly rejected.
The initial Hamas attack in October 2023 killed roughly 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. While many hostages were freed during prior ceasefires, the subsequent Israeli offensive has claimed more than 57,000 Palestinian lives, with women and children comprising over half the toll, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Although the ministry operates under the Hamas-run government and does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, the United Nations and other agencies continue to cite its casualty figures as the most reliable data available.
As diplomatic efforts persist, both sides remain locked in violent exchanges, leaving civilians in Gaza and soldiers on the front lines to pay the highest price for the stalled peace process.
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