Israel intensifies Gaza attacks as ceasefire negotiations continue

Israeli forces carried out a series of strikes across the Gaza Strip, including a drone attack on the Es‑Sabra neighbourhood that killed a 38‑year‑old resident and a bombed drug depot near Aksa Martyrs Hospital in the Deyr el‑Belah area, destroying the facility and setting dozens of refugee tents ablaze. The assaults wounded at least 20 people, including children, and added to earlier attacks that killed civilians in Rimal and other districts.

Amid the violence, diplomatic efforts for the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire are ongoing. Nickolay Mladenov, the Gaza Peace Committee’s senior envoy, said Hamas had accepted a detailed roadmap, while former U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced on social media that the parties had agreed to lay down arms. Hamas reiterated that any further steps depend on Israel fully meeting its obligations from the first phase of the truce, particularly halting attacks and establishing a timetable for agreed measures.