Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli air strikes killed more than 40 Palestinians on Sunday, including children at a water distribution point, as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remained deadlocked after a week of intensive talks.
The latest casualties bring the Palestinian death toll to alarming levels while international mediators struggle to broker a temporary truce that could end 21 months of devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Children among casualties in water point strike
Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed that eight children were among 10 victims killed in a drone strike at a water distribution facility in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
The Israeli military acknowledged the incident, describing it as a “technical error” during an operation targeting a militant. Military officials stated that “the munition fell dozens of meters from the target.”
Across the Palestinian territory on Sunday, strikes killed at least 43 people, including 11 at a Gaza City market, according to Bassal’s report.
Trump pushes for ceasefire deal
US President Donald Trump, whose administration serves as Israel’s primary ally, expressed cautious optimism about reaching a ceasefire agreement.
“Hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week,” Trump told reporters Sunday, echoing similar comments made on 4 July.
However, no immediate breakthrough appeared imminent as both sides maintained hardline positions in the Qatar-mediated talks.
Intensive military operations continue
The Israeli military has recently escalated operations across Gaza, reporting that its air force “struck more than 150 terror targets” in the past 24 hours.
Released aerial footage showed fighter jet strikes on Hamas positions around Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, with explosions and thick smoke visible across the area.
Local residents described the devastating impact. Khaled Rayyan from Nuseirat told AFP he was awakened by large explosions, finding “our neighbor and his children under the rubble” of a destroyed house.
Stalemate in Doha negotiations
Peace talks in Qatar’s capital have reached a critical impasse, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of blocking progress toward a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Hamas wants the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but a Palestinian source with knowledge of the talks said Israel had presented plans to maintain troops in more than 40 percent of the territory.
The source said Israel wanted to force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into the south of Gaza “in preparation for forcibly displacing them to Egypt or other countries”.
While a senior Israeli official claimed Israel had shown “flexibility in negotiations, while Hamas remains intransigent.”
Hostage crisis remains unresolved
The conflict originated with Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1 219 deaths, mostly civilians, according to official figures.
Of the 251 hostages taken that day, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 confirmed dead by Israeli military sources.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The Gaza health ministry reports at least 58 026 Palestinian deaths from Israel’s retaliatory campaign, figures the United Nations considers reliable.
Critical resource shortages: – Only 150 000 liters of fuel allowed in recent days – Daily requirement: 275 000 liters for basic needs – UN warns of “critical levels” threatening 2 million residents
Public pressure mounts
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces renewed pressure from protesters who beamed images of captives onto buildings near his Jerusalem office Sunday evening.
“The absolute majority want a deal even (at the cost of) ending the fighting,” said Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod remains captive.
Netanyahu has indicated willingness to discuss lasting peace only after Hamas disarms, a condition the militant group rejects.
