Israeli forces killed more than 30 people in recent strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medical officials on Saturday. This occurred a day after the International Court of Justice demanded that Israel cease its operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
Despite the court’s ruling, Israel continued its operations against Hamas, the Palestinian militant group. It was also reported that mediated discussions between Israel and Hamas are set to resume next week, according to an official familiar with the situation. The talks were arranged following a meeting between the leaders of Israel’s Mossad, the CIA, and the Prime Minister of Qatar.
The meeting concluded with a plan to begin negotiations next week, involving new proposals from mediators Egypt and Qatar, with the United States playing a significant role. Hamas has not yet made a public statement regarding the talks.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has lasted over seven months, has seen mediators struggling to achieve any significant progress. Israel’s goals include the release of hostages held by Hamas, while Hamas demands the release of Palestinian prisoners and seeks an end to the hostilities.
Despite mediation efforts and the recent judicial order from the International Court of Justice to stop military actions in Rafah, fighting continues. Israel states that its military activities in Rafah aim to dismantle Hamas’s military presence.
The conflict has significantly isolated Israel on the international stage, especially with its latest offensive in Rafah which began against the advice of its closest ally, the United States.
The Gaza health ministry reports that the Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian deaths. The offensive began after militants, led by Hamas, launched attacks on southern Israeli communities on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, as per Israeli records.
The Israeli military reported that it conducted targeted operations in Rafah on Friday, aiming at militants, destroying parts of Hamas’s tunnel system, and seizing weapon caches. Further north, in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 17 people, according to Palestinian medical workers. A total of 31 Palestinians were killed across Gaza in the latest round of fighting.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have continued their assaults on Israeli forces, using anti-tank rockets and mortars. In Jabalia, northern Gaza, Israeli tanks penetrated deeply, leading to significant destruction of homes, shops, and infrastructure. The Israeli military claims to have eliminated numerous militants through close-quarters combat and airstrikes in the area.
Palestinian medical teams have reported difficulties in accessing the affected areas, where they suspect more fatalities have occurred.
Israel has stated that its operations in Rafah aim to eliminate Hamas militants and secure the release of hostages, despite the mounting global opposition. As fighting moved towards Rafah, it caused hundreds of thousands of Gazans to flee the city, which had become a haven for those escaping conflicts in other parts of the enclave.
A resident of Rafah reported continuous bombardment by Israeli forces, stating that the military aims to intimidate the population into abandoning the entire city. So far, the fighting has been concentrated on the southern and eastern parts of Rafah, away from the densely populated areas. The United States has urged Israel to avoid advancing into central neighborhoods, expressing concerns over the potential for high civilian casualties without a clear plan.
