IDF activity in southern Gaza. Photo: IDF
Negotiations over a new ceasefire with Hamas continued over the past several days but remain deadlocked, Israeli media reported on Thursday, as the IDF continued to strike terror targets and advance ground troops in northern Gaza.
A Hamas official confirmed with Reuters that efforts by the mediators had intensified in recent days but noted, “No breakthrough has yet been made.”
According to the Qatari outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, an Israeli delegation was in Cairo on Wednesday evening. A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive on Thursday to continue the talks with the Egyptian mediators.
In response, the Israeli government reportedly decided to gradually increase military pressure on Hamas, while still hoping to pressure the terror group into concessions.
In recent statements, Hamas’ spokesmen claimed they were ready to agree to the current proposals but blamed Israel for not responding.
On Thursday, Hamas sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that they were ready to accept “any proposal” to return to a ceasefire. They also claimed that the group had already accepted the latest “Witkoff proposal.”
Spokesman Abd al-Latif Qanoua said on Wednesday that “any proposal based on entering negotiations for the second phase and a permanent end to the war will be welcomed and open to discussion. We want to stop the bloodshed and are open to all efforts that will lead to a permanent ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza.”
However, last week, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Hamas had made counter offers and private demands in the hope of buying more time without having to release Israeli hostages.
The U.S. State Department noted that the mediation proposal presented by Witkoff to extend the ceasefire is still relevant but the time window “could close quickly.”
“For now, we still have the mediation proposal that would extend the ceasefire and lead to the release of five living hostages in exchange for a significant number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons,” a U.S. official said.
Meanwhile, the IDF continued to strike terror targets throughout Thursday, after advancing ground troops further into the Netzarim Corridor for the first time on Wednesday and launching limited ground operations in northern Gaza on Thursday morning.
Hamas criticized the move in a formal statement.
“We hold Israel and its leadership fully responsible for the consequences of the ground invasion into central Gaza, which constitutes a new and dangerous violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
“Israel’s repeated threats to expel our people from their land will not weaken their resolve,” Hamas officials added.
Palestinian media claimed that 71 people were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza overnight, raising the overall number to about 540 since the IDF resumed airstrikes in the enclave.
The figures are issued by Hamas and cannot be verified.
On Thursday morning, the IDF issued an additional warning to Gazan civilians, urging them to avoid travel on along the main north-south artery – Salah al-Din road – as IDF troops expanded operations in the Netzarim Corridor.
“The IDF does not intend to harm you. For your safety, it is forbidden to approach IDF forces in the defensive zone and in any place where they are deployed,” stated Col. Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic spokesman.
On Wednesday, the United Nations called for a probe of an incident in which one of its workers was killed and five others wounded in an explosion in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns all attacks on UN personnel and calls for a full investigation,” Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated. “He underscores that all conflicts must be conducted in a way that ensures civilians are respected and protected.”
While acknowledging it was too early to “determine responsibility,” Haq denied that the incident was caused by a mine or unexploded bomb.
He said a projectile “was either dropped or fired at the infrastructure and detonated inside the building. We do not know whether it was fired from land, from the sea, from the air.”
According to the Times of Israel, footage from the scene reveals that those injured were working in the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
The IDF has denied responsibility for the incident, with a military spokesperson telling AFP, “There was no IDF operational activity there and that the IDF didn’t strike the UN compound.”
