Israeli forces continued their operations near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Monday, amidst international efforts to broker a ceasefire to prevent a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its proxies. Palestinian medics reported that Israeli military strikes in several areas of Khan Younis on Monday resulted in at least 16 deaths and multiple injuries. Simultaneously, more families and displaced individuals were evacuating areas under new evacuation orders.
As clashes persisted across various parts of the Gaza Strip, Hamas expressed skepticism about the upcoming round of Egyptian and Qatari-mediated talks scheduled for Thursday, noting no indication of Israeli willingness to negotiate. In a statement, Hamas urged mediators to compel Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal aligned with US President Joe Biden's ideas, which Hamas has already endorsed, rather than engaging in further negotiations that might mask Israel's aggressive actions.
Sources close to Hamas suggested that the new talks were pre-coordinated with Israel to prevent reactions from Iran and Hezbollah following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a key Hezbollah figure in Lebanon. A Palestinian official involved in the mediation process noted that Hamas' stance might shift if Israel positively responds to the accepted proposal, but currently, Hamas doubts Netanyahu's sincerity in reaching a deal.
Meanwhile, as tensions escalated, the US dispatched a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, and the Abraham Lincoln strike group expedited its deployment. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about Iran's preparations for a large-scale attack on Israel, according to a well-sourced Axios News reporter.
Israel has been on high alert since last month's missile strike that killed 12 young people in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, leading to Israel's retaliation by killing a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. The following day, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, prompting Iranian vows of retaliation. The potential for further escalation underscores the deep turmoil the Middle East is experiencing due to the ongoing 11-month war in Gaza.
The Hamas-led assault on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 captives, marking one of the most devastating attacks in Israel's history. In response, Israeli forces have devastated Gaza, displaced the majority of its population, and caused around 40,000 fatalities, according to the Palestinian health ministry, eliciting global horror.
On Saturday, numerous casualties occurred in Israeli strikes on a Gaza City school building, which the military claimed targeted fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Gaza health officials report that most victims have been civilians, while Israel asserts that at least a third are combatants. Israel has lost 329 soldiers in the conflict.
