Israeli air strikes targeting three houses in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of 13 people and left several others wounded, according to medics on Monday. Hamas-affiliated media outlets, however, reported a death toll of 15 from the strikes.
The attacks also extended to Gaza City in the north, where Israeli planes struck two houses, causing casualties as confirmed by health officials.
These strikes occurred amidst ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, with Egypt set to host discussions involving Hamas leaders. The conflict escalated following an initial attack by Hamas militants on Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in casualties and hostage-taking incidents.
Israel’s response has been characterized by vows to eliminate Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza. The military operation has led to a significant number of Palestinian casualties and widespread displacement of the population.
Recent developments indicate a potential path towards a ceasefire, with Hamas presenting proposals to mediators from Qatar and Egypt. Israel, in turn, has responded with its own truce proposal, outlining steps such as the release of hostages and a phased approach towards calm and troop withdrawal from Gaza.
As talks continue, Hamas officials have expressed the need for clarification on Israel’s response to their proposals. The upcoming discussions in Cairo are expected to address these concerns and potentially move towards a resolution to the conflict.
Sources By Agencies
