On Thursday, Israel targeted a Gaza school it claimed housed a Hamas compound, killing fighters allegedly involved in the October 7 attack that initiated the eight-month conflict. However, Gaza media reported that at least 27 civilians seeking shelter were killed in the strike.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run government media office, denied Israel’s claims that the U.N. school in Nuseirat contained a Hamas command post, accusing Israel of fabricating stories to justify the attack on displaced civilians.
Israel’s military stated that precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties before the strike by Israeli fighter jets. The attack followed Israel’s announcement of a new military campaign in central Gaza against fighters using insurgency tactics. Israel maintains there will be no ceasefire during negotiations.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, responding to a truce proposal from U.S. President Joe Biden, demanded a permanent end to the war and an Israeli withdrawal as part of any ceasefire agreement. This stance appeared to be Hamas’s response to the U.S.-backed proposal, which had awaited Hamas’s answer.
Efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire have repeatedly failed, with Hamas demanding a permanent resolution and Israel agreeing only to temporary pauses until Hamas is defeated. U.S. officials continue to push for an agreement, with CIA Director William Burns meeting with Qatari and Egyptian officials to discuss the proposal.
Despite Biden’s optimistic announcements of potential ceasefires, no truce has materialized. The recent proposal comes amid mounting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the conflict and negotiate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, which killed around 1,200 people and captured over 250 hostages, Israel’s military assault on Gaza has resulted in more than 36,000 deaths, according to Gaza health officials. Meanwhile, tensions with Lebanon-based Hezbollah threaten to escalate into a broader conflict.
Although Biden characterized the ceasefire proposal as an Israeli offer, the Israeli government has shown tepid support. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that any negotiations with Hamas would occur only under continued military pressure.
On Wednesday, clashes continued in Gaza, with the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad engaging Israeli forces and firing rockets. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza, one of the few remaining operational hospitals, received the bodies of two children killed with their mother, highlighting the conflict’s devastating toll on civilians.
