World / Middle East
Israel resumes Gaza operations after 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire
After a two-day pause allowing aid access and hostage releases, Israeli forces resumed operations as mediators pursue extended ceasefire negotiations.
The Israeli military resumed operations in central Gaza on Wednesday following a 48-hour ceasefire that permitted limited humanitarian aid deliveries and family reunions. An Israeli military spokesman said the decision to resume operations came after what he described as violations of the ceasefire terms by Hamas, though Hamas disputed the characterization. The United Nations humanitarian office said aid organizations delivered food and medical supplies to approximately 120,000 people during the ceasefire window, the first sustained delivery corridor in six weeks.
“The humanitarian situation remains dire across Gaza,” said Amelia Foster, Gaza director for the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Two days of access cannot address weeks of shortages. We need sustained, predictable access to all areas of Gaza to prevent a public health crisis.” Reports from aid organizations document widespread malnutrition, limited clean water, and insufficient medical care in displacement camps across southern Gaza where an estimated 1.2 million people remain displaced.
Diplomatic Efforts and Negotiations
United States and Egyptian mediators continued negotiations in Cairo aimed at extending the ceasefire into a longer-term arrangement. A draft proposal circulated by U.S. envoy Robert Whitmore calls for a 14-day pause to allow aid access, followed by status quo talks. Israeli officials have privately indicated willingness to discuss extended pauses tied to the release of remaining hostages, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Palestinian negotiators said they remain committed to ceasefire talks but are skeptical of Israeli follow-through given the resumption of operations.
The Norwegian Red Cross said Tuesday that an additional 14 hostages held by Hamas were released during the ceasefire, bringing the total released since the conflict intensified in March to 62. Israeli officials said 31 hostages remain in Hamas custody, though confirmation of their status is limited. Families of hostages released during the ceasefire expressed gratitude but called for sustained pressure on negotiators to secure permanent release of all hostages and achieve lasting peace.
Humanitarian Conditions and Aid Access
The World Health Organization warned that disease outbreaks pose an immediate risk to the displacement camps, where sanitation facilities remain inadequate. An outbreak of hepatitis A was confirmed in a camp near Khan Yunis on Tuesday, the first confirmed disease cluster since the ceasefire began. WHO teams have begun vaccination efforts in coordination with UNRWA, though access to some areas remains restricted.
Regional states remain engaged in mediation efforts. Qatar's prime minister traveled to Israel on Wednesday to convey Egyptian and American proposals for extending the ceasefire. Saudi Arabia called for international support for Palestinian reconstruction, a gesture analysts view as a subtle signal of conditional backing for a resolution. Turkish foreign ministry officials said their government continues to press both parties for a permanent ceasefire and credible pathway toward negotiations. “The window for diplomacy remains open,” Turkish spokesman Kerem Aydogan said, “but the clock is running.”