Gaza Death Toll Rises as Israel Continues Strikes, Defying Ceasefire

Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in 118 Palestinian fatalities over a four-day period, as confirmed by local authorities. The strikes continue despite international ceasefire efforts championed by the U.S. administration. Ongoing negotiations in Egypt, involving mediators from Qatar and Egypt, aim to secure a truce and facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

Israeli Strikes Intensify in Gaza Amid Stalled Truce Talks

The Gaza Government Media Office reported that Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire have killed 118 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in just four days. This escalation persists despite a public appeal for a ceasefire from former U.S. President Donald Trump, to which Palestinian group Hamas had responded positively.

According to the Media Office's statement, Israeli forces carried out more than 230 strikes from October 4th to October 7th. These attacks reportedly targeted densely populated civilian areas and displacement zones, leading to what the statement described as "clear massacres." The city of Gaza was said to be the most severely affected, accounting for 72 of the reported casualties, which included women and children.

The statement placed full responsibility on Israel and called for urgent international intervention to establish a genuine ceasefire. The violence unfolds against a backdrop of renewed, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas. These talks are being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and are mediated by Egyptian and Qatari officials.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry indicated that the discussions focus on a potential hostage-prisoner exchange and ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. A longer-term goal involves mapping out a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. This recent surge in violence adds to a devastating toll; since October 2023, the Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 67,100 Palestinian deaths and has left the coastal enclave largely uninhabitable.