GAZA / CAIRO: Gaza witnessed another blood-soaked day as over 60 Palestinians lost their lives in relentless Israeli airstrikes, defying U.S. President Donald Trump’s urgent call for an immediate halt to hostilities. The situation has once again highlighted the futility of international appeals as the enclave reels under mounting devastation.
Local health authorities confirmed that at least 66 people were killed in the past 24 hours, with women and children among the victims. In one of the deadliest incidents, an Israeli missile struck a residential building in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood, flattening homes and leaving families buried beneath the rubble. Rescue workers struggled to recover bodies as airstrikes continued to pound other areas of the besieged strip.
President Trump, who has been pushing a 20-point peace plan, urged both sides to act swiftly, warning that “any delay would put everything at risk.” While Israel briefly reduced the intensity of its strikes, it resumed bombing within hours, raising doubts over its willingness to honour even temporary pauses. Hamas, on the other hand, has signaled conditional openness to parts of the U.S. plan, though deep mistrust lingers.
Diplomatic activity is now centered on Cairo, where indirect negotiations are expected to take place involving both Israeli and Palestinian representatives. Talks are likely to focus on prisoner exchanges, humanitarian access, and potential mechanisms for implementing a ceasefire.
For Gaza’s war-weary residents, hopes for peace remain fragile. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, infrastructure lies in ruins, and tens of thousands of lives have already been lost in the conflict. Yet, despite the mounting death toll, the guns show no sign of falling silent.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.