Israeli Airstrikes Kill 33 in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Intensify
Netanyahu Heads to Washington Amid Escalating Violence and Trump’s 60-Day Truce Proposal
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 33 Palestinians across Gaza on Sunday, hospital officials reported, as the Israeli military targeted over 130 Hamas sites in the past 24 hours. The strikes, which hit Gaza City and Muwasi in southern Gaza, come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for critical ceasefire talks in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump.
In Gaza City, 20 people were killed and 25 injured when strikes hit two homes, according to Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of Shifa Hospital. In Muwasi, a coastal area crowded with displaced Palestinians living in tents, 13 died, including five from one family, per Nasser Hospital officials in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas command centers, weapons storage, and launchers, killing several militants, but offered no comment on specific strikes.
The violence follows Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, considered reliable by the UN despite not distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
Also Read: Israeli Airstrikes and Shootings Kill 35 in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Efforts
Ceasefire Talks Gain Momentum
Amid the bloodshed, ceasefire efforts are intensifying. Trump has proposed a 60-day truce involving a partial hostage release by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, with negotiations to end the 21-month war. Netanyahu’s office confirmed Israel will send a team to Qatar on Sunday for indirect talks, though it accused Hamas of seeking “unacceptable” changes. Hamas insists on guarantees for a permanent end to the war and Israeli troop withdrawal, a sticking point in past talks, while Netanyahu vows to destroy Hamas.
Netanyahu’s Washington visit on Monday follows his advisor Ron Dermer’s discussions with U.S. officials. Trump, who recently brokered an Israel-Iran ceasefire, warned Hamas to accept the deal, stating on Truth Social, “It will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.” However, Hamas expressed skepticism, with official Taher al-Nunu noting no breakthrough has been achieved.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The strikes coincide with a dire humanitarian situation. Israel’s blockade since March has restricted food, medicine, and fuel, raising famine fears. Over 500 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution sites, with NGOs demanding the closure of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The UN warns of a collapsing humanitarian system due to fuel shortages.
As Netanyahu and Trump prepare to meet, the world watches whether diplomacy can halt the escalating violence and bring relief to Gaza’s 2.3 million people, 90% of whom are displaced.
Also Read: Israeli Airstrikes and Shootings Kill 35 in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Efforts
