Israel has issued an evacuation order for Palestinians in certain northern Gaza areas in anticipation of heightened military operations, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement. Residents in neighborhoods across Gaza City and Jabalia have been instructed to head south towards the coastal region of al-Mawasi as Israeli military actions “intensify and expand westward.” According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 86 individuals lost their lives due to Israeli strikes in the 24 hours leading up to midday on Sunday, including three children from a strike in the area designated as a “safe zone,” as reported by their parents. On Sunday, Trump emphasized the urgency of “making the deal in Gaza” and the necessity to “get the hostages back.”
On Saturday, Trump expressed on Truth Social that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was currently negotiating a deal with Hamas. In contrast, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Avichay Adraee, stated on Sunday that the military was actively engaged in operations in northern Gaza to eliminate terrorists and their infrastructure. According to medics and local residents who spoke to Reuters, military bombardments intensified in Gaza during the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the destruction of several homes. The Hamas-run civil defense agency in Gaza reported that at least 23 individuals were killed on Sunday alone.
Among the casualties, medics indicated that five people lost their lives due to an Israeli airstrike targeting a tent occupied by displaced individuals in al-Mawasi, a region near Khan Younis where many from the north were directed to evacuate. Tragically, five members of the Maarouf family, including three children, were among the deceased. Their mother, Iman Abu Maarouf, lamented, “They bombed us while we were sleeping on the ground. We didn’t do anything wrong. My children were killed, and the rest are in intensive care.” Their father, Zeyad Abu Maarouf, shared with Reuters that the family had moved to the “safe zone” a month prior, following Israel’s instructions to relocate to al-Mawasi.
The escalation in military activity coincides with renewed efforts by mediators to resolve the conflict and facilitate the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas. A senior Hamas official revealed to the BBC that mediators have ramped up their attempts to establish a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, although negotiations with Israel remain at an impasse. Qatari mediators are optimistic that US pressure could aid in reaching a deal, particularly after a recent truce between Israel and Iran ended a 12-day conflict. Trump previously expressed optimism that a ceasefire in Gaza could be achieved within the following week. It is worth noting that in March, a two-month ceasefire collapsed as Israel resumed strikes on Gaza, citing the need to compel Hamas to release hostages. Additionally, Israel had implemented a complete blockade on humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza at the beginning of the conflict.March saw a partial easing of tensions after an 11-week period marked by increasing pressure from US allies and dire warnings from global experts about the looming starvation of half a million people. This move included the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid group supported by the US and Israel, in response to accusations from Israel that Hamas was misappropriating aid—allegations that Hamas has firmly denied. However, the aid system implemented by GHF has faced significant criticism from UN agencies. Tragic incidents involving the deaths and injuries of Palestinians seeking aid have become all too common. Juliette Touma, the communications director for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), characterized the new aid mechanism as a “killing field” in an interview with the BBC, asserting that only the UN and other established humanitarian organizations can ensure a safe and orderly distribution of aid.
In previous discussions, GHF’s director, Johnnie Moore, acknowledged that there had been deaths near aid locations but contested claims that all casualties were attributable to the proximity of GHF operations, stating that such assertions were “not true.”
The previous ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, initiated on January 19, was intended to unfold in three stages but faltered before reaching the second stage, which comprised a permanent ceasefire, the return of hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump has called for the dismissal of ongoing corruption charges against Netanyahu, labeling the proceedings a “political witch hunt” that obstructs ceasefire talks.
An Israeli court recently granted Prime Minister Netanyahu a one-week delay in his scheduled testimony due to diplomatic and security considerations. Netanyahu has faced charges since 2019 for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which he denies. Earlier in the week, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid admonished Trump against interfering in the legal matters of a sovereign state. Israel’s military actions in Gaza were triggered by Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. Since that time, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 56,500 individuals have lost their lives.