No rest for Gaza. As fears grow over a worsening humanitarian crisis, Israel maintains its assault on Rafah. Airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 48 people, including a third who were children. The death toll in the enclave reaches nearly 30,000 Palestinians in under five months of open combat. The severity of the situation has pushed Hamas to adjust its stance in negotiations taking place in Cairo, offering limited concessions in exchange for assurances that its leaders will not be targeted on the battlefield. Palestinian sources cited by Efe indicate Hamas has dropped its demand for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in return for guarantees against assassinations. Neither Israel nor the mediators from Qatar and Egypt have confirmed the report at this time.
These same sources expressed cautious optimism to Efe, suggesting a potential new truce could be announced next week after a planned Paris meeting involving Israeli intelligence chiefs, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar’s prime minister. A two-day dialogue in Cairo concluded recently with a Hamas delegation led by Ismail Haniyeh. Also present were the U.S. Middle East adviser Brett McGurk, who has traveled to Israel, and senior Egyptian intelligence figures led by Abbas Kamel.
Una sola tregua
For their part, Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk confirmed that progress in negotiations could occur soon. In an interview with the Egyptian channel Al Ghad, he said the main obstacle is Israel’s refusal to withdraw its ground forces from Gaza. He reiterated Hamas conditions for an agreement: an end to hostilities and the return of displaced people to the north of the enclave. He also demanded the release of 500 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli hostage, about 134 currently held. Abu Marzouk pledged that Hamas will continue its struggle until victory or martyrdom and will not lay down arms. These cross‑talking statements complicate reaching any deal.
Over the last four and a half months, only a single ceasefire mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with US help, had taken place in late November. During that week, 105 hostages were released and 240 Palestinian prisoners, all women and children, were freed, while aid into the enclave increased. Yet recent statements from both sides have driven expectations away from another repeat of this pattern. Israeli political and military leaders have underscored their priorities: recover hostages, eliminate Hamas, and remove any threat to Israel’s security in Gaza. Hamas is far from meeting those goals with its new concessions aimed at keeping leaders alive.
“Pockets of humanitarian aid”
At present, Israel is pursuing Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian matters in zones of the Gaza Strip designed like pilot areas for governing the enclave after the war, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Reuters. The plan would exclude anyone linked to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas denounced this approach as a form of reoccupation of Gaza and warned it would fail. The official noted, without naming sources, that Israel is seeking the right people to step forward, but that it will take time because many fear facing Hamas or worse.
The plan arrives as reports circulate that the Israeli army has resumed fighting in the northern part of the enclave, while activity continues in the southern region of Khan Younis. Just hours after soldiers told residents in towns a few kilometers from the Gazan border that it was now safe to return home, air raid alerts have again sounded, underscoring the fragility of any proposed shift toward normal life.