Automatic gunfire rang out in the heart of the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, shortly after the Israeli military announced its forces were gearing up for a significant advance into the region. This incident occurred in the central city of Deir al Balah, although the exact source of the gunfire remains unclear, and it is unknown whether Israeli forces initiated a new offensive. Requests for comments from the military have gone unanswered.
This outbreak of gunfire follows a night of heavy Israeli bombardment and coincides with renewed peace talks involving mediators including representatives from the Trump administration, aiming to establish a temporary truce. The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli casualties and 250 hostages taken.
The Israeli military response has been devastating, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, a figure that does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Despite the extensive casualties inflicted by Israeli airstrikes, the military has not succeeded in a decisive blow against Hamas nor in recovering all hostages.
In the last few days, Israel's offensive has intensified dramatically, with reports suggesting the death of over 90 individuals in Gaza on Friday alone, according to the Gazan health ministry. The United Nations has issued warnings concerning an impending humanitarian disaster, highlighting that approximately two million Palestinians in Gaza face extreme food shortages brought on by a blockade Israel enforced in early March to pressure Hamas.
President Trump echoed this concern on Friday, stating that “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza and committing to efforts aimed at alleviating the dire situation. Hamas has reiterated its stance that it will not release the remaining 58 hostages unless Israel halts its military operations and withdraws from Gaza. Despite significant losses among Hamas leadership, the group has demonstrated an ability to recruit new fighters, sustaining its prolonged conflict with Israel.
In a recent strike, Israel targeted locations near a hospital in Khan Younis, aiming to eliminate Muhammad Sinwar, a prominent remaining leader of Hamas, though there have been no statements confirming his status from either side.
Aaron Boxerman reports from Jerusalem, and Patrick Kingsley serves as The Times’s Jerusalem bureau chief, overseeing coverage related to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
This outbreak of gunfire follows a night of heavy Israeli bombardment and coincides with renewed peace talks involving mediators including representatives from the Trump administration, aiming to establish a temporary truce. The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli casualties and 250 hostages taken.
The Israeli military response has been devastating, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, a figure that does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Despite the extensive casualties inflicted by Israeli airstrikes, the military has not succeeded in a decisive blow against Hamas nor in recovering all hostages.
In the last few days, Israel's offensive has intensified dramatically, with reports suggesting the death of over 90 individuals in Gaza on Friday alone, according to the Gazan health ministry. The United Nations has issued warnings concerning an impending humanitarian disaster, highlighting that approximately two million Palestinians in Gaza face extreme food shortages brought on by a blockade Israel enforced in early March to pressure Hamas.
President Trump echoed this concern on Friday, stating that “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza and committing to efforts aimed at alleviating the dire situation. Hamas has reiterated its stance that it will not release the remaining 58 hostages unless Israel halts its military operations and withdraws from Gaza. Despite significant losses among Hamas leadership, the group has demonstrated an ability to recruit new fighters, sustaining its prolonged conflict with Israel.
In a recent strike, Israel targeted locations near a hospital in Khan Younis, aiming to eliminate Muhammad Sinwar, a prominent remaining leader of Hamas, though there have been no statements confirming his status from either side.
Aaron Boxerman reports from Jerusalem, and Patrick Kingsley serves as The Times’s Jerusalem bureau chief, overseeing coverage related to Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.
