Israel rejects ceasefire appeal, demands release of hostages on day 29 of Gaza conflict

The US calls for a humanitarian pause in the Gaza region have been turned down by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war between Israel and Hamas approaches its 29th day. In Gaza, the Israeli military and Hamas terrorists are still exchanging gunfire.

The already terrible living conditions in Gaza prior to the fighting have gotten worse. Food is in short supply, locals are drinking saline water, medical facilities are failing, and over 9,250 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza health officials.

After failing to secure humanitarian “pauses” in Israel’s war on Hamas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with King Abdullah II of Jordan on Saturday.

On Friday, an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance carrying wounded people from besieged northern Gaza resulted in 15 fatalities and 60 injuries.

Hamas claims Israel bombed Gaza hospital

Palestinians reported a fatal Israeli strike on a school in the Gaza City area that was being used as a shelter on Saturday.

Many of the evacuees who had taken refuge at the Jabalia refugee camp were killed and injured, according to witnesses, when an Israeli airstrike hit the Al-Fakhoura school. The director of al-Shifa Hospital, Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, reported that the school incident resulted in at least 15 deaths and numerous injuries.

Around 15 people were killed, according to Gaza health officials, in an Israeli airstrike on an ambulance that the military claimed was targeting Hamas militants.

US to engage in diplomatic parleys with Arab leaders

On Saturday in Jordan, Washington’s top diplomat was scheduled to hear Arab demands for a ceasefire.

The United States has reaffirmed calls to work towards a Palestinian state amid Israel’s fierce campaign against Hamas, but few anticipate success now after decades of failure. In recent days, Biden has quietly shifted the focus by highlighting the need to reduce harm to Palestinian civilians.

Israel rejects appeals for ceasefire

Thousands of Palestinian labourers from the Gaza Strip were sent back to the besieged area by Israel on Friday.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has turned down US requests for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict until Hamas releases all of its hostages.

The international community has been urged by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to step in and defend medical teams and civilians from Israeli attacks.

The Israeli government has cautioned its citizens about travelling abroad and advising them to travel with caution due to an increase in antisemitic incidents.

Hamas attack victims complain to ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has received a complaint from the families of nine Israelis who were killed by Hamas last month, alleging war crimes. According to Israeli officials, 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Hamas’s bloody raids on October 7.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah praised Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and called for a ceasefire in his first speech in public since 2006.

(With agency inputs)