Hamas claims it steered the latest Gaza ceasefire plan

International Outcry Mounts Over Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

As the conflict rages into its second year, the plight of Gaza’s civilians has drawn sharp global criticism. More than 100 aid and rights organisations now warn of a looming mass starvation that could devastate the over two‑million population.

Ceasefire Talks Stall in Doha

• Hamas announced on Thursday that it had responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60‑day truce.
• The Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed receipt of the response, stating it is “currently being evaluated.”
• Hamas’s reply included amendments on aid delivery, a map of Israeli withdrawal zones, and guarantees for a permanent end to the war.

Negotiations in Doha, launched July 6, aim for a truce that would also release Israeli hostages. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military reports as dead.

Health and Humanitarian Risks

The World Health Organization’s chief warned on Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, stating food deliveries were “far below what is needed for the survival of the population.”

• Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the situation “mass starvation” and described it as “man‑made.”
• France warned of a growing “risk of famine” caused by Israel’s blockade.
• Israel countered that Hamas prevents supplies from being distributed and loots aid for sale at inflated prices.
• COGAT reported that about 70 food trucks had been unloaded at aid crossings the preceding day, yet over 800 items remain awaiting pick‑up.
• Hamas‑run Gaza’s health ministry coordinated with UNICEF to schedule the entry of medical trucks into hospitals on Thursday.

Casualty Figures

The health ministry in Hamas‑run Gaza reported that Israel’s military campaign has killed 59,219 Palestinians, mostly civilians. According to AFP, Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,219 deaths, most of them civilians.

Summary

With pressure for a breakthrough mounting, Washington’s top envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to travel to Europe this week for talks on a ceasefire and aid corridor. The international community watches closely as the negotiations continue, while aid agencies struggle to deliver life‑saving supplies amid an active war zone.