In the latest developments of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli troops reportedly discovered weapons and alleged “terror infrastructure” within Al Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip during an ongoing raid. Israeli officials claim that Hamas is using the hospital to conceal military operations and hostages, an accusation vehemently denied by the Palestinian group.
Despite tensions, an Israeli military official stated that there had been no fighting within the hospital complex, and no clashes with medical staff or patients occurred after Israeli soldiers arrived during the night.
The death toll continues to rise, with over 11,000 Gazans killed in Israeli strikes over the past month, including approximately 40% being children, according to Gaza’s health department. In retaliation, Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7, resulting in the death of around 1,200 Israelis, with over 240 others taken hostage.
Meanwhile, Qatar is actively seeking to broker a deal between Hamas and Israel, involving the release of approximately 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in exchange for a three-day ceasefire. The negotiations, reportedly coordinated with the U.S., also aim to secure the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails and increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.
While Hamas has agreed to the general outlines of the proposed deal, Israel is still negotiating the details. The agreement under discussion raises questions about the number of Palestinian women and children Israel would release from its jails as part of the potential truce.
As the conflict persists, the first truck carrying fuel into Gaza since the total siege was imposed by Israel has crossed from Egypt. However, the delivery, while a step forward, falls significantly short of meeting the daily needs for sustaining lifesaving activities, as highlighted by Tom White, the director of the U.N. relief agency in Gaza.
