• Over one million Palestinians displaced from Rafah due to ongoing Israeli military operations, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies reported.
• The White House proposes a ceasefire deal urging Israeli withdrawal, humanitarian aid delivery, and prisoner exchange, facing internal opposition from Israeli far-right extremist coalition partners.
Over one million people have been forcefully displaced from Rafah, the southern most city in Gaza, as Israeli forces continue their genocidal military operations across the region. In the last 24 hours alone, 40 civilians have been killed in various attacks. This escalation has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with Jabalia and Beit Hanoon in the northern Gaza Strip now declared “disaster areas” following intensive Israeli military operations.
The situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly, with the government reporting severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The blockade imposed by Israel has drastically limited the entry of humanitarian aid, leading to dire conditions for the residents. Over 3,500 children are at risk of dying from starvation, and the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse due to the lack of medical supplies and the overwhelming number of casualties.
Recent reports indicate over 1.1 million Palestinians have contracted infectious diseases due to overcrowding and displacement, with more than 20,000 cases of viral hepatitis.
The lack of clean water and sanitation facilities has exacerbated the public health crisis, putting even more lives at risk.
This comes as the White House proposes and urges Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire deal in Gaza. National security spokesperson John Kirby stated that the U.S. expects Israel to accept the ceasefire if Hamas agrees. The plan, backed by multiple European and Arab countries, includes Israeli troop withdrawal, humanitarian aid delivery, and the exchange of prisoners and hostages. Despite initial rejections and internal dissent, the pressure is mounting for Israel to commit to the peace plan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing significant internal opposition to the proposed ceasefire deal. Far-right Zionist extremist coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to quit the government if the deal proceeds. Ben Gvir has labeled the deal “foolhardy,” arguing that it constitutes a victory for terrorism and poses a threat to Israel’s national security. Smotrich has echoed these sentiments, demanding the continuation of the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned. This internal dissent threatens to destabilize Netanyahu’s coalition, potentially leading to its collapse if the ceasefire deal moves forward.
Osama Hamdan, a spokesman for Hamas, has welcomed the truce plan in principle but indicated that the group has not received any formal documentation regarding the proposal.
Hamas has reiterated its demands, which include lifting the blockade, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid, and securing the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The group’s leadership remains skeptical about Israel’s intentions and insists that any truce must be accompanied by tangible actions to address the underlying issues of the war.
