Israeli airstrikes hammered Gaza City again today, claiming at least 70 lives even as U.S. President Donald Trump demanded an immediate halt to the bombardment. The attacks, part of a broader offensive now stretching into its 729th day, targeted residential areas and aid routes, leaving families buried under rubble. Reports from the ground paint a grim picture: children pulled from debris, hospitals overwhelmed, and a humanitarian crisis deepening by the hour.
Trump, in a surprise video address, urged Israel to stop the bombing "immediately" while pressing Hamas to release all remaining hostages. He claimed the group was "ready for peace," tying the offer to a phased withdrawal from Gaza under his proposed plan. Yet, the strikes continued unabated, with the Israeli military citing ongoing threats from militants embedded in civilian zones. Netanyahu's office signaled openness to the first stage of Trump's blueprint, which includes hostage swaps and temporary pauses, but no firm commitments emerged.
Moreover, Hamas responded cautiously, saying it would free captives only if Israel meets "proper field conditions" and pulls back entirely. The group's statement came hours after Israeli forces issued fresh evacuation orders for northern Gaza, threatening residents who stay as "terror supporters." Indeed, the rhetoric escalated tensions further. On the West Bank front, separate clashes killed several Palestinians during raids, underscoring the conflict's spillover.
However, the human toll mounts relentlessly—over 42,000 dead in Gaza alone, including thousands of children, according to health officials navigating the chaos. Aid convoys face looting and shelling, starving the strip of basics like food and medicine. Trump's intervention, while bold, highlights the fragile diplomacy at play, where words clash against unyielding military momentum.
Indeed, as night falls over the battered enclave, one wonders if this latest push for talks can pierce the cycle of violence that has gripped the region for so long.