Gaza Strikes Kill Scores As Paris Hosts Truce Talks

(CTN News) – In the Palestinian Territories, overnight strikes on Gaza killed dozens, the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry said, as Israel’s spy chief joined talks in Paris to unblock truce talks.

The talks come after Netanyahu’s plan for a post-war Gaza was criticized by the U.S. and rejected by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.

The attacks also deepen civilian fears . Gazans are “in extreme peril while the world watches,” UNWRA says.

Over the last 24 hours, Israeli forces have struck more than 70 civilian homes in Deir Al-Balah, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, Hamas said. At least 92 people died, according to the health ministry. Fighting has also erupted in Zeitun, the northern district of Gaza ruled by the Palestinian Islamist movement since 2007.

On Friday, distraught protested over dire living conditions and queued for food at Jabalia, also in Gaza’s devastated north. Because of hunger, we have no water, no flour, and are very tired. One of them, Oum Wajdi Salha, said their backs and eyes hurt because of the fire and smoke.

A two-month-old baby named Mahmud Fatuh died from “malnutrition,” health ministry said.

Without enough food, water, and health care, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA warned that famine risks would increase in Gaza.

About 1,160 Israelis were killed, mostly civilians, in Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack, according to an AFP tally.

In addition, Hamas militants took 130 hostages, 30 of whom are presumed dead, Israel says.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 29,606 people have been killed by Israel’s retaliatory offensive.

At least 23 people were killed and dozens more were wounded in an Israeli air strike on the home of Mahmoud Zuaiter, a well-known Palestinian comedian.

Post-war Gaza will be run by Palestinian officials who don’t have Hamas connections, according to Netanyahu’s plan.

In the plan, Israel’s army would have “indefinite freedom” to operate throughout Gaza to prevent resurgence of terror activity after the conflict.

Also, Israel will establish a security buffer zone inside Gaza along the border,

Which is already underway. It’s unworkable, says a Hamas official. As for the day after in the Strip, Osama Hamdan told reporters in Beirut that Netanyahu’s ideas won’t succeed.

Also, the US criticized the plan. As National Security Council spokesman John Kirby put it, Washington has been “consistently clear with our Israeli counterparts” about what Gaza needs.

The Palestinian people should have a say…by reviving the Palestinian Authority, he said, adding the US doesn’t believe in shrinking Gaza.David Barnea, Mossad’s chief, led a delegation to Paris on Saturday to push for a deal.Ronen Bar, Barnea’s counterpart at Shin Bet, would join him.

In the past, the US, Egypt, and Qatar were involved in negotiations to get a truce and exchange prisoner-hostages.

The pressure is mounting on Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a ceasefire and free the hostages. Families of the captives planned a “huge rally” on Saturday night to demand faster action. In Tel Aviv, White House envoy Brett McGurk met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after talking to other mediators in Cairo who met Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.

According to Hamas, the new plan calls for a six-week break in the conflict and the release of 200 to 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 35-40 hostages.

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