Egypt Proposes New Ceasefire as Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed over 60 Palestinians, including women and children, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry on Monday. These attacks follow Israel’s abrupt end of a ceasefire with Hamas, which lasted for less than a week.

Egypt Proposes New Ceasefire Plan In an effort to revive peace talks, Egypt has proposed a new ceasefire agreement. The proposal includes Hamas releasing five hostages, including an American-Israeli, in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and agreeing to a temporary halt in hostilities. Israel, in turn, would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas responded “positively” to the offer, although no specifics were given, with both Egyptian and Hamas officials speaking anonymously.

West Bank Settlement Surge Meanwhile, an Israeli anti-settlement group has reported a sharp increase in the approval of new settler homes in the West Bank. The group Peace Now noted that Israel has greenlit 10,503 housing units this year, surpassing last year’s total of 9,971. The Palestinian Authority views these settlements as a major obstacle to peace, as they are seen as encroachments on territories Palestinians seek for a future state.

Senior Hamas Official Killed in Hospital Strike An Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital killed senior Hamas official Ismail Barhoum, who managed Hamas' finances and had recently taken over as head of Hamas' Gaza government. The attack also claimed the life of a teenage boy recovering from surgery.

Civilian Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis The Gaza Health Ministry reported 61 new deaths and 143 injuries from airstrikes within the past 24 hours. The Palestinian death toll since the war’s start exceeds 50,000, with over 113,000 wounded. Several hospitals reported casualties, including four deaths from an airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat refugee camp.

Violence in Northern Israel In northern Israel, a vehicle attack followed by gunfire left one elderly man dead. Authorities identified the assailant as a suspected Palestinian militant, and Israeli police shot him on site. A second victim is in serious condition.

Thousands Trapped in Rafah Palestinian officials reported that thousands are stranded in Rafah as Israeli forces encircle the city, leaving many unable to flee. Among the trapped are first responders from the Civil Defense and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Israel Defends Military Actions Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the country’s operations, stating that Israel seeks to minimize civilian harm while targeting Hamas militants. He accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields and vowed to continue operations until all hostages are freed and Hamas is removed from power in Gaza.

Rising Death Toll Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 25 Palestinians in the last 24 hours. Hospitals continue to receive casualties, with some victims already recovering from prior strikes. Gaza’s Health Ministry estimates that more than 50,000 Palestinians have died since the war began.

U.S. Surgeon Describes Hospital Attack Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a U.S. trauma surgeon working in Gaza, described the aftermath of the Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital, where many victims had already been injured in earlier attacks. Some patients, including a boy and a man he had treated days before, were among those killed in the strike.