GAZA CITY, Palestine/ISTANBUL – A wave of Israeli airstrikes and shelling across the Gaza Strip on Saturday left at least 70 Palestinians dead, including women and children, according to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. The devastating attacks, which targeted multiple areas including Gaza City, have drawn sharp condemnation from Hamas, which accused the Israeli government of perpetuating a brutal campaign against civilians despite claims of de-escalation. The violence comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to broker a ceasefire, with Egypt announcing it will host delegations from both Israel and Hamas on Monday to discuss a prisoner exchange and steps toward ending the conflict, following a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Hamas issued a scathing statement on Saturday, denouncing the Israeli military’s actions as a direct contradiction to assertions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government that it was scaling back operations targeting civilians. “This ongoing bloody escalation exposes the lies of the claims of the war criminal Netanyahu's government regarding reducing military operations against defenseless civilians,” the group declared. The statement highlighted the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, including vulnerable populations, as evidence of what Hamas described as a deliberate and unrelenting campaign of violence. The group called on the international community, as well as Arab and Islamic nations, to take immediate action to protect Palestinians, provide humanitarian relief, and exert pressure to halt what it termed a two-year “war of extermination” and starvation in Gaza.
According to a statement from the Gaza Media Office, the Israeli military conducted 93 airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 70 individuals. Of those, 47 fatalities were reported in Gaza City alone, a densely populated urban center that has borne the brunt of the ongoing bombardment. The strikes have added to an already staggering death toll, with over 67,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to local authorities. The relentless Israeli campaign has also reduced much of Gaza’s infrastructure to rubble, leaving hospitals, schools, and residential areas in ruins and exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The latest escalation follows a call by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday for Israel to “stop bombing Gaza immediately.” Trump’s remarks came in response to Hamas’s announcement that it was prepared to release Israeli captives as part of a ceasefire proposal put forward by the U.S. president. In a statement, Hamas expressed its readiness to engage in negotiations aimed at achieving a “lasting peace,” signaling a potential opening for diplomacy after months of stalled talks. Trump’s 20-point peace plan, unveiled on September 29, includes key provisions such as the immediate release of Israeli captives held in Gaza within 72 hours of Israel’s approval, a comprehensive ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas. The proposal has been viewed as a significant, albeit contentious, attempt to break the deadlock in the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced countless others.
Egypt’s announcement on Saturday that it will host delegations from both Israel and Hamas on Monday marks a critical step toward advancing Trump’s plan. The talks in Cairo are expected to focus on the details of a prisoner exchange, a key component of the ceasefire proposal. According to Israeli estimates, 48 Israeli captives remain in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. In contrast, Israel holds approximately 11,100 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are subjected to harsh conditions, including torture, hunger, and medical neglect, according to reports from Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations. The disparity in the treatment of captives has been a major sticking point in previous negotiations, with Hamas demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of any deal.
The conflict, which intensified in October 2023, has left Gaza in a state of unprecedented devastation. The Israeli bombardment has not only claimed tens of thousands of lives but has also obliterated critical infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, schools, and medical facilities. The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, where access to food, clean water, and medical care is severely limited. The blockade imposed by Israel has further compounded the crisis, restricting the flow of essential goods and aid into the territory. According to the Gaza Media Office, the starvation policies enforced by the Israeli military have pushed large segments of the population to the brink of famine, with children and the elderly particularly vulnerable.
Hamas’s call for international intervention reflects growing frustration with the lack of decisive action from global powers to address the crisis. The group has urged Arab and Islamic countries to take a more assertive role in protecting Palestinians and holding Israel accountable for its actions. The statement from Hamas emphasized the need for legal and humanitarian measures to end the violence and provide relief to the people of Gaza, who have endured two years of relentless warfare. The group’s appeal comes amid increasing criticism of the international community’s response to the conflict, with many accusing world leaders of failing to uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians in war zones.
The timing of the latest airstrikes is particularly significant, as they come just days after Trump’s public call for an immediate halt to the bombing. The U.S. president’s intervention has placed renewed pressure on Israel to reconsider its military strategy, particularly in light of Hamas’s willingness to engage in ceasefire talks. However, the Israeli government has yet to issue a formal response to Trump’s proposal, and the continued airstrikes suggest that military operations remain a priority for Netanyahu’s administration. The prime minister has faced domestic criticism for his handling of the conflict, with some accusing him of prioritizing political survival over the pursuit of peace.
The upcoming talks in Cairo represent a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. Egypt, which has long served as a mediator between Israel and Palestinian factions, is well-positioned to facilitate negotiations. However, previous attempts at brokering a ceasefire have faltered due to deep-seated mistrust between the parties and disagreements over key issues, such as the terms of a prisoner exchange and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza. The success of the upcoming talks will depend on the willingness of both sides to make concessions and the ability of mediators to bridge the gap between their respective demands.
For the people of Gaza, the stakes could not be higher. The ongoing violence has left families shattered, communities displaced, and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. The humanitarian toll is staggering, with thousands of children orphaned and countless others suffering from malnutrition and untreated injuries. The destruction of hospitals and clinics has further strained Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system, leaving doctors and medical staff struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. The international community’s response to the crisis will be closely scrutinized in the coming days, as calls for accountability and justice grow louder.
As the delegations prepare to meet in Cairo, the world watches with bated breath. The outcome of these talks could determine whether Gaza sees a respite from the violence that has defined its reality for the past two years or whether the cycle of destruction continues unabated. For now, the people of Gaza remain caught in the crossfire, their lives hanging in the balance as the international community grapples with the challenge of bringing an end to one of the most protracted and devastating conflicts of our time. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, and the need for a lasting solution has never been more apparent.
