More than 35 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire across Gaza since Saturday morning, according to hospital sources, as the conflict shows no signs of abating despite renewed diplomatic efforts.
The deadliest single attack struck a residential building in central Gaza, killing at least 11 people—more than half of them women and children—according to officials at al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City. In the Nuseirat refugee camp, nine members of the same family died in another Israeli strike, while at least six people seeking humanitarian aid were killed in central and southern Gaza.
Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian State at UN
The escalation came just one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, declaring that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas. Many delegates walked out in protest as he took the stage, underscoring international frustration with the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli air force reported striking approximately 120 targets across Gaza since Friday, including what the military described as “buildings used by terror groups, terror operatives and other infrastructure.” Israel’s expanded ground offensive remains focused on Gaza City, which it considers Hamas’s last major stronghold.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Hundreds of thousands of residents have fled Gaza City amid the intensified fighting, while hundreds of thousands more remain trapped in dire conditions. A UN-backed body confirmed famine in the territory’s largest urban center last month, as health services and essential infrastructure continue to collapse.
“They tell us go there, then come back here… People are in the streets, in the south scattered everywhere. Where should we go?” asked Salwa Subhi Bakr, whose family members were killed in a strike on Al-Shati refugee camp. “What does the world want from us? What does Netanyahu want? What does Hamas want?”
Trump’s New Peace Initiative
Against this backdrop of violence, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about achieving a breakthrough in Gaza negotiations. His administration has reportedly developed a comprehensive 21-point peace plan for the Middle East, according to Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
While the plan has not been formally presented, media reports suggest it includes:
Release of all hostages and large numbers of Palestinian prisoners
An immediate ceasefire
A potential pathway to Palestinian statehood
Allowing Palestinians to remain in Gaza
Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s complete demilitarization
A process to de-radicalize Gaza’s population
The provisions regarding Palestinian statehood directly contradict Netanyahu’s position, setting up a potential confrontation when the two leaders meet on Monday.
Long Road to Peace
Both Hamas and the Israeli government would need to make significant concessions beyond their current positions for any comprehensive agreement to succeed. The conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
Since then, at least 65,549 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
With the two-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaching, many on both sides hope desperately that they won’t have to endure a third year of this devastating war. However, the continued violence and deep political divisions suggest that path to peace remains fraught with challenges.
