Israeli strikes on Gaza claim more lives as ceasefire talks stall
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As the humanitarian crisis worsens, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement remain at an impasse.
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Palestinians mourn over the bodies of their relatives killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip on Saturday, March 15, 2025 (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A Palestinian woman succumbed to her wounds on Sunday after her home was bombed in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported. Meanwhile, an elderly man was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the town of Juhor ad-Dik, also in central Gaza.
At the same time, intense Israeli tank fire was reported east of Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis, further escalating the violence as ceasefire negotiations remain in limbo.
Rising Death Toll Amid Unrelenting Strikes
The Gaza Civil Defense announced that its teams had retrieved 17 bodies, including eight unidentified victims, from the Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza. These victims were buried within the hospital compound amid "Israel's" ongoing aggressions. Civil defense workers also recovered seven additional bodies from the rubble of a home belonging to the Muna'ma family in western Gaza City.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 29 martyrs arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours, including 15 recovered from the rubble and 14 newly killed individuals. Additionally, 51 people were injured.
Humanitarian efforts continue to be severely hampered as ambulance and civil defense teams struggle to reach many victims trapped under the rubble or stranded on roads due to persistent Israeli attacks.
Read more: US, 'Israel' move to sanction UNHRC over report on Israeli war crimes
Since October 7, 2023, the death toll in Gaza has risen to 48,572, with the number of injuries reaching 112,032.
On Saturday, nine Palestinians, including two journalists, were killed after Israeli warplanes targeted a vehicle belonging to a charitable organization at the Al-Atar junction in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza.
Ongoing Negotiations and Israeli Escalation
As the humanitarian crisis worsens, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement remain at an impasse. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his negotiating team to prepare for further discussions in Doha regarding a US-brokered "bridge" ceasefire proposal.
The proposal, put forward by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, calls for the immediate release of 11 living captives along with the remains of some deceased hostages. However, major disagreements persist:
- "Israel" demands the release of 10 captives before proceeding with further negotiations.
- Hamas insists on clear and binding guarantees before agreeing to the next phase.
- Hamas has agreed to release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, along with the remains of four other dual nationals.
Meanwhile, "Israel" has intensified pressure by ordering the cessation of electricity sales to Gaza, a move aimed at pressuring Hamas but unlikely to have immediate effects, as power had already been cut off since the start of the war.
