Israel has ordered Palestinians to evacuate from parts of northern Gaza ahead of increased military action, with President Trump urging for the two sides to agree to a ceasefire deal that would potentially halt the fighting in the 20-month-long conflict in Gaza.
People in neighbourhoods across Gaza City and Jabalia have been told to move south towards the coastal area of al-Mawasi as Israeli military operations “intensify and expand westward”. The Hamas-run health ministry said that at least 86 people were killed as the result of Israeli attacks in the 24 hours before midday on Sunday. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Sunday that the Israeli military was operating in north Gaza “to eliminate terrorists and terrorist infrastructure”.
Trump had told reporters in the Oval Office last week that there could be a ceasefire agreement within the next week, saying “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of.” Over the weekend, Trump again pleaded in a post on Truth Social: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”
Israeli officials said that a top adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer, was set to travel to Washington this week for talks on a ceasefire. Plans are also being made for Netanyahu to travel to Washington in the coming weeks, a sign there may be movement on a new deal.
Reuters reported that military bombardments increased in Gaza in the early hours of Sunday, destroying several houses. Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defence agency told news outlets that at least 23 people had been killed on Sunday alone.
In March, a two-month ceasefire collapsed when Israel launched fresh strikes on Gaza, stating that they wanted to put pressure on Hamas to release its hostages. Israel also imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza at the start of March, which it partially eased after 11 weeks following pressure from US allies and warnings from global experts that half a million people were facing starvation.
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