Since the latest round of cease-fire talks began in Qatar last week, intensified Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
Despite international appeals for a cease-fire, Israel has continued its military operations across Gaza, citing the need to secure “its security needs” before entering negotiations.
These intensified assaults are seen as an attempt by Israel to impose its conditions and apply pressure on Hamas and the international community by escalating military operations and targeting civilians.
“The Israeli army continues to commit crimes and massacres against civilians in Gaza,” said Ismail Thawabteh, head of Gaza’s government media office, in a statement to Anadolu.
“In the past five days, they have escalated their attacks, committing 13 new massacres as a means of political pressure to achieve their goals,” he added.
As cease-fire and prisoner swap talks commenced in Doha on Thursday, Israeli forces killed at least 12 people in attacks on Gaza City and Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Another 12 civilians were killed in Israeli attacks on Khan Younis and Gaza City on Friday.
Health authorities reported that Israeli forces committed three “massacres” on Saturday, resulting in at least 26 civilian deaths. An additional 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday in the embattled enclave.
According to Palestinian sources, at least 134 civilians have been killed and 342 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Thursday.
“These massacres are part of Israel’s escalation and its war of genocide against civilians, marked by the deliberate bombing of homes and the intentional killing of as many people as possible,” Thawabteh stated.
In anticipation of the cease-fire talks, Israel issued widespread evacuation orders across various areas of the Gaza Strip, particularly in central and eastern parts of Khan Younis.
On Friday, the Israeli army ordered civilians to evacuate from areas east of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, including Al-Qarara, Hamad residential city, and areas in Al-Mawasi, which Tel Aviv had designated as a “humanitarian safe zone.”
Evacuation orders were also issued on Saturday for residents of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, leading to a mass exodus of civilians.
The army further expanded its military operations in Khan Younis, advancing beyond Hamad residential city and moving closer to the area designated as a “humanitarian safe zone.”
Complicating matters, the Israeli army targeted displacement tents multiple times, worsening the suffering of civilians in an attempt to strengthen Israel’s negotiating position.
Journalists were also targeted in the violence. On Sunday, TRT Arabic reporter Sami Barhoum was injured by Israeli fire, and another journalist, Salma Qadumi, was shot in the back in Khan Younis.
On Monday morning, Gaza’s emergency and rescue teams recovered the body of journalist Ibrahim Marwan Muhareb, who was killed by an Israeli strike while covering events in the area.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces and illegal settlers launched attacks against Palestinians and their property, killing three civilians and detaining several others, displacing communities, and setting homes and property ablaze.
On Thursday evening, about 100 illegal Israeli settlers attacked the village of Jit, east of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank, killing one civilian and injuring several others, according to Palestinian medical sources.
Illegal settlers also burned three vehicles and Palestinian homes in Jit in what was described as the most violent attack in months.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, at least 18 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by illegal settlers in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources.
On Friday, Moataz Besharat, responsible for monitoring Israeli settlement activity in Tubas and Northern Jordan Valley, reported that 14 Palestinian families were displaced from the Um al-Jamal area due to increased settler attacks.
On Saturday, an Israeli drone strike killed two Palestinians in a vehicle in the West Bank city of Jenin.
The Israeli army also conducted a series of raids in the West Bank, focusing on Nablus, Qalqilya, and Tulkarem, arresting more than 80 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society.
In response, Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for several attacks on Israeli forces in Gaza and a bombing in Tel Aviv.
On Monday, the Qassam Brigades claimed the Tel Aviv attack was carried out in collaboration with the Islamic Jihad group.
Hamas reported that its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces west of Khan Younis and detonated two explosive devices against Israeli infantry north of Khan Younis.
On Saturday, Hamas claimed to have detonated two anti-personnel devices against Israeli military vehicles in Tel al-Hawa and engaged in machine-gun battles with Israeli forces.
The group also targeted Mivtahim and Nirim military posts and Israeli forces at Netzarim Junction with short-range rockets.
Hamas also said it launched an explosives-laden drone towards Israeli forces east of Khan Younis on Thursday.
The Doha cease-fire talks concluded on Friday with a proposal that “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas, consistent with principles set out by US President Joe Biden on May 31.
Biden said in May that Israel had proposed a three-phase deal to end hostilities in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held in the coastal enclave. The plan includes a cease-fire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and Gaza’s reconstruction.
However, Hamas announced on Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced new conditions in the cease-fire and hostage swap proposal during the Doha talks.
“The new proposal aligns with Netanyahu’s conditions, especially his refusal of a permanent cease-fire, complete withdrawal from Gaza, and his insistence on maintaining control over key areas,” Hamas said in a statement.
The group accused Netanyahu of adding new conditions to the hostage swap file and retracting previous agreements, hindering the deal’s completion.
Hamas called on mediators to “fulfill their responsibilities and compel Israel to implement what has been agreed upon.”
For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been working to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to secure a prisoner exchange, cease-fire, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
However, mediation efforts have stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to end the conflict.
Defying a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Israeli onslaught has killed more than 40,130 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 92,700, according to local health authorities.
More than 10 months into the Israeli offensive, large parts of Gaza are in ruins under a crippling blockade that has deprived residents of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel is facing genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to immediately halt military operations in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before it was invaded on May 6.
