Dawn breaks over Gaza, casting a pale light on the rubble-strewn streets. In the heart of this bombarded territory, where the echoes of conflict resonate, a desperate quest for sustenance unfolds.
In the northern reaches of Gaza, Youssef Fares, a local journalist from Jabalia, sets out in search of bread. He navigates through the shattered remains of what once was a bustling market. “This morning,” Youssef writes in a diary entry now viral on social media, “I searched for a loaf of bread but found none. What remains are just candies and beans, their prices skyrocketed 50 times.”
Meanwhile, Abdel-Aziz Mohammad, a 55-year-old displaced from Gaza City, recounts his ordeal over the phone, his voice a mix of despair and defiance. “They forced us out of our homes,” he says, referring to the Israeli forces. “From a life of comfort to begging for bread.” His family, along with three others, now huddle in a friend’s house further south, their lives upended by the relentless conflict.
As the sun climbs higher, the UNRWA trucks, a lifeline for many, navigate treacherous paths to deliver aid. But in areas like northern Gaza, aid is a rare sight. The head of UNRWA reveals, “People are so hungry they stop the trucks to snatch food.”
Also read: US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Israeli Settlers Involved in West Bank Violence
At the Rafah border crossing, a bottleneck of aid trucks waits under the scrutiny of inspections. Each truck, laden with hope, faces delays that turn critical supplies into mere symbols of what could have been.
A senior U.N. official voices frustration: “It’s not a breakthrough. It’s another bluff,” commenting on the additional inspections at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which were supposed to streamline the process.
As the day wears on, the stark reality of the situation becomes more evident. An unnamed resident, in a moment of desperation, slaughters a donkey to feed his family. This act, born out of necessity, underscores the severity of the crisis.
In the backdrop of this daily struggle for survival, the larger picture of the conflict looms. Israel’s campaign against Hamas, starting from an incursion on October 7, has resulted in devastating casualties and widespread displacement.
Also Read: List Of Countries Expressing Support for Hamas
As night falls over Gaza, the stories of Youssef, Abdel-Aziz, and countless others remain etched against the backdrop of a conflict that has torn lives apart. Their stories, a testament to human resilience, echo in the silence of a territory yearning for peace and It emphasizes the resilience and hope that persist even in the darkest of times.
Hamas Proposes 135-day Gaza Ceasefire with complete Israeli withdrawal.
In a significant development, Hamas has put forward a proposal for a ceasefire to halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza for four-and-a-half months. This proposal, aimed at quieting the guns in the region, includes the release of all hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, and the initiation of discussions to end the war. This move comes as part of the largest diplomatic effort yet to achieve an extended cessation of hostilities.
The ceasefire offer from Hamas, which was a response to a proposal mediated last week by Qatar and Egypt and approved by Israel and the United States, has sparked discussions at the highest levels of diplomacy. However, Israel’s Channel 13 reported that certain demands from Hamas were deemed unacceptable by Israel, which has previously stated it will not withdraw its forces from Gaza until Hamas is eliminated.
Despite the hesitancy, the proposal suggests a softening of Hamas’s initial stance, which demanded a full cessation of war before any hostage release. This counterproposal, confirmed by sources and seen by Reuters, outlines a phased plan beginning with the release of Israeli women hostages, males under 19, and the elderly and sick in exchange for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. This would be followed by the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been actively involved in the mediation efforts, discussed the proposal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussions come amidst Blinken’s visits to Qatar and Egypt, highlighting the international push for a resolution.
The proposal details a phased approach to ceasefire and negotiations, starting with indirect talks on the conditions required to end military operations and achieve complete calm. The second phase would see the release of remaining male hostages and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with the third phase focusing on the exchange of bodies and remains.
Also Read: List Of Countries Expressing Support for Hamas
The document also mentions the need for guarantees from Qatar, Egypt, and other states to ensure the ceasefire holds, reflecting Hamas’s desire for a lasting peace rather than a temporary halt to aggression.
The reaction within Gaza has been a mix of cautious optimism and heartbreak, as residents continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The recent proposal has ignited hope for a possible end to the war, which has seen significant casualties on both sides and immense destruction within the Gaza Strip.
The conflict, which escalated following a raid by militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in the death of thousands and the displacement of many more. The international community has been closely watching the developments, with many calling for an urgent resolution to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the proposal from Hamas presents a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of ongoing conflict. The world awaits the response from Israeli authorities, hoping for a breakthrough that could lead to peace and stability in the region.
Israel started attacking Rafah where 1.7 million displaced Palestinians took refugee camps, Netanyahu said ‘Rafah is the last stronghold for Hamas in Gaza’.
