As preparations are underway for discussions between Israel and the United States regarding the cessation of Israel’s aggressive attacks aimed at genociding the people of Gaza in Palestine, Israel has significantly escalated its attacks on Gaza. On June 29, U.S. President Donald Trump called for an end to the retaliatory attacks in Gaza that have been ongoing since October 7, 2023. On June 30, a close envoy of the Israeli Prime Minister was scheduled to travel to Washington to discuss the Gaza aggression, Iran, and the Middle Eastern situation.
Despite preparations for talks on ending the aggression, Israel has not slowed down its attacks on Gaza in any way. Israeli tanks have entered the eastern areas of the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City and attacked many northern areas. They have also bombed four schools in those areas. In the past 24 hours, 38 Gaza residents have been martyred, including 10 in Zeitoun and 13 in Khan Yunis. Gaza health authorities state that most of those martyred were innocent women and children.
Gaza residents describe the attacks by Israel on northern Gaza in the past 24 hours as the most intense and dangerous in recent weeks. A Gaza resident said that Israeli attacks continued without interruption, bombing houses and schools. Some people have described the force of these attacks as similar to an earthquake, with the ground shaking. Egypt and Qatar, who are coordinating talks to end the Gaza aggression, have increased their efforts to restart negotiations. However, no date has been set for the talks to begin. The main obstacle to moving forward with the talks is Israel’s condition that Hamas disarm. Israel says that the aggression can only be permanently stopped if Hamas is eliminated. However, Hamas maintains that an agreement cannot be reached unless the exchange of attacks is permanently halted, and they will not disarm.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that the United States has proposed a 60-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange. He stated that Israel has accepted this proposal and that the decision now lies with Hamas. Under the U.S. proposal, Hamas would release half of the Israeli hostages in their custody in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The remaining hostages would be released once assurances are given that the aggression will end. It is believed that Hamas still holds 50 hostages, of whom about 20 are thought to be alive at this time.
