Cairo: As Israeli forces continue their intense battle with Hamas fighters in central and southern Gaza, displaced Palestinians have gathered on the seashore, with health officials reporting at least 17 deaths from strikes on Tuesday.
Ceasefire talks in Cairo are ongoing, but significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding the future control of two key corridors in Gaza once hostilities cease. Recent evacuation orders issued by Israel, the most extensive since the start of the 10-month war, have provoked strong reactions from Palestinians, the United Nations, and relief organizations due to the shrinking humanitarian zones and the lack of safe spaces.
Residents in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah, now the primary concentration areas for the displaced, have been forced to live in overcrowded tents on the beach. “Maybe they should bring ships so next time we can leave by sea,” said Aya, 30, a displaced woman from Gaza City now residing in western Deir Al-Balah. “Every day we hear that talks are progressing, but nothing changes. Does anyone realize that every day more families are being devastated by the bombardments? Does the world understand that each day costs more lives?” she told Reuters via chat app.
Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli strikes killed nine people in the Bureij and Maghazi refugee camps, five in Khan Younis, and three in Rafah. Gaza’s health ministry estimates that more than 40,400 Palestinians have died in the conflict. The densely populated enclave has been severely impacted, with most of its 2.3 million residents displaced multiple times and facing severe shortages of food and medicine, according to humanitarian agencies.
The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas militants launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
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UN Aid Operations Suspended
On Monday, United Nations aid operations in Gaza came to a halt following new evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah, where the U.N. operations center was located. This disruption has delayed a planned vaccination campaign for approximately 640,000 children against polio, following the detection of at least one case of the disease.
Amid the ongoing conflict, negotiators in Cairo are working to end the fighting and arrange an exchange deal for 109 Israeli and foreign hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. Despite some optimism from the United States, which is backing the talks alongside Egypt and Qatar, progress has stalled as Hamas and Israel continue to blame each other.
Key issues include Israel’s demand to retain control over the Philadelphi corridor on the Egyptian border, which Israel claims is a major smuggling route for weapons into Gaza. Israel also insists on monitoring movement from southern and central Gaza into northern areas via the Netzarim corridor to prevent armed fighters from relocating.
