By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Fresh efforts to rescue the fragile Gaza ceasefire were overshadowed on Sunday by renewed violence that left at least nine Palestinians dead and dozens wounded, highlighting the deep challenges facing negotiators as they seek to prevent the collapse of a hard-fought truce.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli airstrikes targeted a Hamas-run police station and a vehicle in different parts of the Gaza Strip. The attacks occurred as Egyptian mediators welcomed representatives from Hamas and other Palestinian factions to Cairo for a new round of negotiations aimed at preserving and advancing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that has largely halted major combat since October.
The deadliest strike struck a police facility near a large tent camp housing displaced civilians in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Medical officials reported that five people were killed and at least sixteen others were injured. The facility was located close to an area crowded with families who had already been displaced multiple times during the conflict. Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents rushed to help the wounded and assess the damage.
Later in the day, another Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle traveling through central Gaza City, killing four people and injuring four more. Israeli military officials did not immediately comment on either incident.
The latest attacks come amid an intensified Israeli campaign against Hamas-linked security infrastructure. Hamas officials say dozens of police officers have been killed in recent months as Israel has increased strikes against police stations, headquarters, and personnel. Israel argues that Hamas security institutions form part of the group’s governing and military structure, while Hamas maintains that many police officers are responsible for civilian law enforcement and public order.
Despite the ceasefire’s success in significantly reducing large-scale fighting, the broader political agreement needed to end the war remains elusive. Key disputes continue to divide Israel and Hamas, including the future role of Hamas in Gaza, the disarmament of militant groups, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and plans for reconstruction and governance.
The humanitarian situation inside Gaza remains dire. Israeli forces continue to control substantial portions of the territory, and much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been devastated after nearly three years of conflict. Millions of residents have been displaced, with many surviving in overcrowded tent camps or damaged buildings along a narrow coastal strip.
One of the most contentious issues in the ongoing negotiations is the future of Hamas’ police force, which reportedly numbers close to 10,000 personnel. Hamas wants these officers integrated into a future security structure for Gaza, arguing they are essential for maintaining order. Israel, however, rejects any arrangement that would allow Hamas-affiliated personnel to retain authority after the war.
In Cairo, mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey joined representatives of the Board of Peace, an international mechanism established under the ceasefire framework and backed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks are expected to continue for several days as diplomats attempt to bridge major disagreements that have stalled progress toward a lasting settlement.
Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of repeatedly violating the ceasefire. Since the truce began, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed more than 950 Palestinians, while attacks by Palestinian militants have resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers. These incidents have fueled mutual distrust and complicated efforts to move negotiations into a second phase.
The ceasefire agreement, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council, envisioned a gradual process leading toward a permanent end to hostilities. However, negotiators intentionally postponed the most difficult issues—including Hamas’ disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals, and the structure of a future Palestinian administration in Gaza—until later stages of the process.
Hamas officials participating in the talks insist that a complete halt to Israeli military operations is essential before meaningful progress can be achieved. The group says it remains open to proposals that could advance negotiations but accuses international mediators of favoring Israel’s position on key issues.
The conflict began after Hamas-led militants launched a surprise cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a large-scale military campaign in Gaza that has since transformed the region and produced one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern Middle Eastern history.
According to Gaza health authorities, nearly 73,000 people have been killed during the war, the majority of them civilians. While the ceasefire has provided a temporary respite from the worst fighting, Sunday’s deadly strikes served as a stark reminder of how fragile the truce remains and how far both sides are from achieving a comprehensive peace agreement.
Source Reuters
Original article
Comments