Mediators are stepping up efforts to secure a new ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, a senior Hamas official confirmed, as violence continues to spiral across Gaza. The official said talks remain stalled, despite “intensive contacts” from mediators, including the US, Qatar, and Egypt.
US President Donald Trump echoed cautious optimism on Wednesday, saying “great progress” was being made following the conclusion of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly believes a truce in Gaza is “very close,” though no new formal proposal has been presented to Hamas.
Meanwhile, deadly airstrikes and ground clashes persist. At least 45 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday, including civilians waiting for aid, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s military also announced the deaths of seven soldiers in a Hamas bombing in Khan Younis, marking the deadliest single-day loss for Israeli forces since the latest fighting resumed.
Funerals were held in Gaza City for dozens of those killed, as survivors described food distribution sites as “death points.” Since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began its US-backed aid operation in late May, at least 549 people have reportedly died while trying to access food, raising urgent concerns from the UN and aid agencies, who have accused the GHF of compromising humanitarian neutrality and operating within Israeli military zones.
The situation remains dire. Civilians face hunger, daily bombardment, and growing chaos as Gaza’s infrastructure collapses. UNICEF’s James Elder, recently returned from the territory, called the conditions “a lethal choice” for Palestinians simply seeking food. Meanwhile, inside Israel, grief and political pressure mount, with critics urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war and bring hostages home.
Since Israel resumed its offensive in March, over 860 Palestinians have been killed in the renewed violence. The total death toll in Gaza since the war began in October 2023 now exceeds 56,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Despite signs of diplomatic motion, the path to peace remains uncertain—blocked by deep mistrust, continued bloodshed, and critical humanitarian collapse.
