Conflicting reports emerge about the talks aimed at reaching a truce in Gaza as the Israeli occupation intensifies attacks on the southern city of Rafah amid catastrophic conditions in the besieged enclave.
Egyptian media reported on Monday that US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators as well as Hamas officials have made “significant progress” towards a Gaza truce during talks taking place in the capital, Cairo.
Al-Qahera News, linked to Egypt’s intelligence services, quoted an unnamed senior official as saying: “Egypt continues its intense efforts to reach a truce before Ramadan”, the Muslim fasting month which begins on March 10 or 11.
“There has been significant progress in the negotiations,” the report said after the latest talks began Sunday in Cairo, without Israeli representation.
Monday’s report came a day after reports said that negotiations in Cairo have been stalled as the Zionist entity didn’t send its delegation to the talks over Hamas decision to refrain from presenting a full list of Israeli captives, held in Gaza, who are still alive.
Reports on Sunday also said that another major sticking point was focused on whether the truce will be temporary and lasting for six-weeks, or an end to the war.
Intensified Strikes
At least six Palestinians were martyred on Monday in an Israeli air raid on a residential building in Rafah, bringing the total toll from overnight attacks on the southern city to 13.
The latest attack targeted the Madi family home in the east of Rafah. Several others who were wounded were taken to the nearby al-Najjar Hospital, Palestinian media reported.
An hour ago: a series of Israeli airstrikes over central Rafah pic.twitter.com/KeuvetrYUz
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) March 3, 2024
Earlier, local media reported that at least seven others were martyred in a separate Israeli strike on a house in the Khirbet Al-Adas neighborhood in Rafah. Rescuers in the area were searching through the rubble by hand to find survivors and recover bodies.
Palestinian media also reported that Israeli warplanes destroyed an entire residential square in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.
Overnight strikes were also reported in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The strikes overnight followed several aerial attacks on Deir Al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah on Sunday.
Death Toll
Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Monday that more than 100 people were martyred in the past 24 hours in Israeli bombardment, taking the death toll since the start of the aggression on Gaza to at least 30,534.
The brutal offensive has wounded 71,920 people in the besieged Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people, the ministry added.
“Extremely catastrophic” Medical Situation
The Palestinian ministry, meanwhile, said that the number of children who have died as a result of malnutrition and inadequate medical care in Gaza increased to 16.
It noted that has detected about one million cases of infectious diseases, without having the necessary medical capabilities to treat them, as it described the medical situation in the Gaza Strip as “extremely catastrophic”.
The child Yazan Kafarnah dies in Rafah, Gaza from malnutrition due to Israel’s ongoing siege, depriving over 2 million people in Gaza of food and water. pic.twitter.com/8gdD43Tcds
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 4, 2024
In a statement, the ministry stressed that the Israeli occupation deliberately caused an unspeakable humanitarian and health catastrophe, which contributed to the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases.
The ministry also confirmed that the residents of the northern Gaza Strip are struggling with death as a result of famine that has exceeded global levels due to the scarcity of water and food.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
