Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly rejected a proposed five-day ceasefire deal with Palestinian military groups in the Gaza Strip.
The offer, aimed at securing the release of hostages taken earlier in the conflict, was met with scepticism and opposition from Netanyahu.
The ongoing negotiations took a dramatic turn as Israeli ground forces resumed their invasion of Gaza after
The proposed ceasefire was intended to bring respite to the conflict and facilitate the release of an estimated 240 people whom fighters had taken hostage from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other Gaza-based organizations.
The families of those detained in Gaza expressed their frustration and outrage, staging a demonstration outside Netanyahu’s residence earlier in the week—their demands for priority in securing the release of hostages added to the mounting pressure on Israeli authorities.
The original ceasefire deal put forward by Palestinian groups involved the release of vulnerable individuals, including children, women, older people, and those who were sick, in exchange for a five-day cessation of hostilities, as per The Guardian’s report.
In a parallel development, US President Joe Biden announced that Israel had agreed to allow a four-hour humanitarian pause each day in its combat operations in Gaza.
However, conflicting reports emerged, suggesting that Prime Minister Netanyahu may have rejected this claim, further complicating the situation.
As the conflict escalated, around 80,000 people fled northern Gaza on Thursday, seeking refuge from the intensified Israeli offensive against Hamas militants in the region.
Israel claimed a significant victory by capturing a Hamas stronghold in northern Gaza after a gruelling 10-hour battle.
The toll on the Palestinian population has been catastrophic, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting a staggering rise in casualties.
The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza now stands at a devastating 10,818, a figure that includes 4,412 children and 2,198 women.
Furthermore, Gaza officials revealed that Israeli airstrikes had targeted or struck at least three hospitals on a distressing Friday, rendering 18 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals and 40 other health centres either out of service due to bombardment damage or suffering from fuel shortages.
The United Nations has also issued a stark warning about the long-term impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A UN report highlights that the war has already led to a 4% contraction in the gross domestic product (GDP) in the West Bank and Gaza during the first month of the conflict, pushing over 400,000 people into poverty.
The future appears even bleaker, with the UN projecting that if the conflict persists for a second month, Palestinian GDP will plummet by 8.4%, resulting in losses amounting to $1.7 billion.
If the hostilities endure into a third month, the Palestinian GDP is predicted to plummet by a devastating 12%, leading to losses of $2.5 billion and forcing over 660,000 people into poverty.
The dire situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire and a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing crisis. With lives at stake and the threat of long-term economic devastation looming, international efforts to mediate and bring about peace in the region are of paramount importance.
The rejection of the proposed ceasefire deal only deepens the complex dynamics at play, leaving both Israelis and Palestinians in a precarious and uncertain situation.