The Gaza war intensified on Tuesday, with at least 43 Palestinians killed in fresh Israeli attacks since dawn. According to medical officials, many of the victims were civilians seeking aid in central Gaza. The escalation came as Hamas reviewed US President Donald Trump’s proposed 20-point plan to end the conflict. While Israel has already signaled agreement, Palestinians remain cautious about the details. The proposal, welcomed by several regional and Western states, could shape the next phase of mediation efforts. But with air strikes continuing across the enclave, the humanitarian toll continues to rise.
Escalation amid ceasefire proposal
Despite growing international support for Trump’s peace initiative, Israeli forces pressed ahead with heavy bombardments across the Gaza Strip. Medical sources reported that 18 people were shot dead while attempting to collect aid in the Netzarim Corridor. At the same time, an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp killed three civilians and injured hospital staff at al-Awda Hospital. In Gaza City, entire neighborhoods in the Zeitoun and Daraj districts were flattened, forcing thousands of families to flee once more.
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“Every minute, there is an explosion in Gaza City,” a journalist on the ground said, underlining the relentless pace of Israeli military operations. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that since the war began in October 2023, more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 168,000 injured. Thousands are still missing under collapsed buildings, while aid deliveries are repeatedly disrupted by fighting.
Violence also flared in the occupied West Bank. In the town of ar-Ram, Israeli forces shot and injured two Palestinians during clashes, while a suspected car-ramming attack near Bethlehem left three Israeli settlers wounded. Security forces said the driver was killed at the scene, and investigations are ongoing.
Trump’s 20-point peace plan under scrutiny
Hamas officials confirmed receipt of Trump’s ceasefire proposal late Monday night. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, which is mediating the discussions, announced that Hamas has promised to “responsibly examine” the plan before responding. The proposed framework reportedly includes a ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the deployment of an international stabilization force to secure Gaza. It also outlines mechanisms for humanitarian aid delivery, prisoner exchanges, and long-term reconstruction of the enclave.
Israel has already endorsed the proposal, while countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, and the United Kingdom have expressed support. Russia welcomed the plan as well, with the Kremlin voicing hope that it could help bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion. Turkey has also joined the mediation process, signaling a broader international push to secure agreement.
However, Palestinians have raised critical questions about how the plan would be implemented. Analysts argue that the future of Hamas fighters remains unresolved, particularly whether they would face exile or be integrated into a political process. The role and composition of the proposed stabilization force is also unclear, with debates over whether the United Nations, the United States, or regional actors would provide troops and resources. The displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians adds another layer of uncertainty, as their resettlement and rights are not explicitly addressed. Qatar has called the plan “comprehensive” but stressed that it is too early to predict the outcome.
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Humanitarian crisis deepens
While negotiations continue abroad, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is worsening by the hour. Civilians risk their lives daily to collect food, with aid seekers repeatedly targeted by Israeli fire. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, struggling to function amid critical shortages of fuel and medical supplies. At al-Awda Hospital, several staff members were injured when an Israeli strike hit its western gate, underscoring the vulnerability of medical facilities across the enclave.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid, has continued its journey toward Gaza despite threats from Israel. Lawyers accompanying the flotilla insist that any attempt to block the vessels in international waters would be illegal under international law. At the same time, reports from inside Israeli prisons have highlighted deteriorating conditions for Palestinian detainees. Rights groups accuse prison authorities of deliberate starvation and medical neglect, pointing to the case of Muhammad Arman, who is serving multiple life sentences in solitary confinement at Megiddo Prison.
The situation inside Gaza remains catastrophic, with entire communities displaced, neighborhoods destroyed, and essential infrastructure on the verge of collapse. As global powers debate diplomatic solutions, the population trapped inside the enclave faces an ever-deepening humanitarian emergency.
