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Hostages

Gaza Conflict Enters Tenth Month as Israel Strikes Continue Amid Ongoing Truce Talks

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Intense fighting has gripped the Gaza Strip as Israel's war against Hamas entered its tenth month, with at least 38,098 people killed, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The conflict has displaced 90 percent of the population, left almost 500,000 people facing catastrophic hunger, and resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people in southern Israel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli military said its aircraft had targeted "terrorists" operating around the Al-Jawni school, where 16 people were killed in a strike on a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
  • Four journalists working for local media outlets were killed in strikes overnight into Saturday, and UNRWA said two of its employees had been killed, bringing the total number of UNRWA employees killed in the war to 194.
  • A US official said that a new proposal from Hamas "moves the process forward and may provide the basis for closing the deal" in truce talks, while Hamas's senior official Osama Hamdan told AFP that new ideas from the group had been "conveyed by the mediators to the American side, which welcomed them and passed them on to the Israeli side."
  • Pressure has mounted domestically for another hostage release deal, with regular protests and rallies in Israel, where a rescued hostage named Almog Mair Jan said, "It's important that we reach a deal so that all the mothers can embrace their children and husbands, just as I hug my mother every morning now."
  • The main stumbling block to a truce deal has been Hamas's demand for a permanent end to the fighting, which Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners strongly reject.

Statistics:

  • At least 38,098 people have been killed in Gaza by Israel's military offensive.
  • 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war.
  • Almost 500,000 people in Gaza are enduring catastrophic hunger.
  • 1,195 people were killed in southern Israel as a result of Hamas's October 7 attack.
  • 116 of the hostages taken by Hamas remain in Gaza, including 42 who the Israeli military says are dead.
  • 194 UNRWA employees have been killed in the war.

Sources:

  • AFP: "Israel strikes Palestinians despite talks on truce"
  • Health Ministry in Gaza: "16 Palestinians killed in strike on UNRWA school in Gaza"
  • US official: "New Hamas proposal 'moves the process forward'"
  • Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan: "New ideas from Hamas conveyed to US, Israeli sides"
  • UNRWA: "194 employees killed in Gaza war"

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