Israeli drone strike kills two people in Gaza as ceasefire standoff continues
Local Palestinian medical authorities said that Israeli drone strike killed two people in Gaza on Friday, highlighting uncertainty surrounding a fragile ceasefire agreement that has been stopped in the enclave for weeks.
The Israeli military said the drone attacked a group of militants suspected of operating near northern Gaza troops and planted explosive devices on the ground, but did not give casualties.
Military, Lieutenant, Chief of the New Army. If no agreement is reached with Hamas, the extension of the 42-day ceasefire agreed last month has been prepared for a war to return to Gaza in Gaza.
But over the next few days, Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump, had a direct conversation with Hamas, with no indication that Israel had given up on continuing the ceasefire.
Hamas’ delegation arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators, who have been helping with Qatar officials to continue the next phase of the deal, which could open the way to end the war.
To put pressure on Israel, Hamas released a video showing Israeli soldier Matan Angrest, one of 59 Israelis and foreign hostages, still in the Gaza Strip.
It is not clear whether the ceasefire negotiations will continue
Despite a lot of ic attacks, the ceasefire has been largely held since January 19, allowing 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais to be exchanged for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
But while Trump’s pressure requires Hamas to hand over all the devastating consequences that are still suffering, it is unclear whether the remaining hostages will be released and the conversations about Israel’s evacuation from Gaza and the completion of Israel’s evacuation.
Israel demands the return of its hostages and extends the truce to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan after the Jewish Passover holiday in April. However, it refused to agree to the opening meeting, which would cover issues such as the final evacuation from Gaza and the withdrawal of troops from the post-war government for enclaves.
Israel said it will continue to block all humanitarian aid entering Gaza unless Hamas agrees to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement to expire on Saturday. Hamas hopes to enter directly into the second phase of the original agreement, which includes the evacuation of all Israeli forces from Gaza.
New Israeli military, Zamir, has been visiting troops since taking over the IDF this week and said the troops were ready to return to Gaza to fight if ordered.
Officials from the Palestinian Ministry of Health and Al-Ali Hospital said two people were killed during a drone strike in the Shiyaya area of Gaza City on Friday. A similar incident on Thursday killed three people. The military said the strike was also targeting individuals and saw bombs planted near Israeli troops.
On the first Friday of Ramadan, thousands of people entered the old town of Jerusalem’s walls and prayed at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel allowed a limited number of elderly Palestinians and children from the occupied West Bank to cross the city.
“We haven’t been here for three to four years, but thank God for giving us the happiness and joy of reaching the Al-aqsa Mosque. This is the greatest joy for Muslims,” said Salah Aleiwi, who came in from the West Bank.
Tensions in the West Bank are intensifying
The mosque, called Jews the Temple and Welders on a site in the Old Town of Jerusalem, is a sacred place of two religions that has long been the focus of conflicts that sometimes fall into wider conflicts.
Tensions in the West Bank have intensified in the weeks-long Israeli operation against Palestinian refugee camps, where troops demolished dozens of houses, destroyed roads and other infrastructure, and brought thousands of camp residents out of their homes.
Israel said the operation was targeting Iran-backed Palestinian militant group, which is deeply rooted.
There were a lot of police deployments on the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town last Friday, but no serious troublesome reports were reported.
Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said: “Israeli police are distributed throughout Jerusalem and across Israel to bring all these believers to a safe environment here.”
In recent years, Israeli authorities have regularly restricted access to mosques and citing security needs, while Friday’s entry is conditional, even for approval for those of age-qualified.
Ibtisam Abdul Fattah, 65, from the West Bank, said she was turned twice at the West Bank checkpoint in Qalandiya, north of Jerusalem. “We are on our land, but we are not allowed,” she said.
