Military actions persist in the outer regions of Gaza City by Israel, closing the path for humanitarian relief from entering the confined area

In the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, there are currently 48 hostages still being held, with Israeli authorities estimating that at least 20 of them are still alive. The Israeli Army announced the recovery of two bodies of hostages, including Ilan Weiss, who was captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Ilan Weiss, a father of three daughters, worked as the deputy director of the emergency response team at Be'eri kibbutz before his capture. His wife Shiri and daughter Noga were also taken hostage but were released in November 2023 during the first ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Palestinian organization. Tragically, it was confirmed in January 2024 that Ilan Weiss had been killed that same day.

The second recovered hostage is currently being identified at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a possible ceasefire have not yet made progress. Israel has denied the existence of a famine in the Gaza Strip, but the Gaza Ministry of Health has recorded 322 deaths from malnutrition and hunger.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the immediate initiation of negotiations for the release of all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip and for an end to the war. Israel issued 60,000 mobilization orders and initiated the first phases of its announced large-scale offensive two weeks ago. The Israeli army has intensified its offensive around Gaza City as of 10:00 (07:00 GMT) on Friday. There have been 33 deaths in the Gaza Strip since dawn.

Gaza City has been declared a "dangerous combat zone" by Israeli authorities, and the "tactical pauses" announced earlier do not apply there. However, there are daily ten-hour "tactical pauses" in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, which allow humanitarian aid to enter.

Over a million Gazans live in Gaza City, and since October 7, over 62,900 people have died in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas government's Ministry of Health.

Israel will only accept an agreement if all hostages are released at once and if its "conditions to end the war" are met. The last time Israel recovered remains of hostages was on June 21, 2024.

Military actions persist in the outer regions of Gaza City by Israel, closing the path for humanitarian relief from entering the confined area