Capitals: Europe and the Arabs
Israeli shelling continued on several areas in the Gaza Strip, killing 10 Palestinians, including five children, in recent hours, according to medical sources. Local sources reported that an airstrike targeted a house in Jabalia, killing two Palestinians and wounding others. The death toll from airstrikes and artillery strikes since dawn on Saturday has risen to 24.
Earlier, the Israeli army announced the expansion of its ground operations in the southern Gaza Strip in a statement posted on the X platform, indicating its advance into the city of Rafah as part of its efforts to establish a "buffer zone" on the border. According to what was published by the Brussels-based Euronews website on Sunday morning, the army claimed that the goal of the operation is to destroy Hamas targets, including weapons depots and rocket launchers, in addition to targeting its military sites. In this context, the army issued a warning to residents of three towns in Khan Yunis, urging them to evacuate their homes "immediately," claiming they were being used for firing. How difficult it is for Eid to come to any place while its inhabitants suffer from destruction, killing, and displacement. For adults, who are well aware of what's going on around them, the holiday will be flavorless. However, for children, it's different. They want to play and celebrate, seeking joy and fun, and experiencing the atmosphere enjoyed by all children around the world during Eid. However, it seems that deprivation of all these things is the fate of Gaza's children, given the woes faced by the population in the Palestinian territories, not only since October 2023, but throughout the past decades. With the advent of Eid al-Fitr, once a symbol of joy in Gaza, a different scene unfolds in the Strip. The Square of the Unknown Soldier, once a venue for celebrations and events, has now been transformed into a camp for displaced persons. Children stand among the tents, recalling memories of past holidays filled with toys and new clothes, while today the specter of war looms over them from all sides. This comes as the Israeli government rejected a proposal presented by mediators regarding a ceasefire and hostage exchange. Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv presented an alternative proposal stipulating the release of 10 Israeli hostages, instead of the five originally proposed by Egypt.
According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Israel is seeking to reach a truce agreement before the Jewish Passover holiday, which falls between April 12 and 20, while insisting on increasing the number of released hostages.
In this context, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it had conducted extensive consultations that culminated in the presentation of a new proposal coordinated with Washington, without revealing its details. The Broadcasting Authority also indicated that the alternative proposal constitutes a rejection of the Egyptian initiative.
In contrast, Khalil al-Hayya, the head of the Hamas movement in Gaza, announced on Saturday evening that the movement had accepted the proposal it received from Egypt and Qatar, expressing his hope that Israel would not obstruct its implementation. Al-Hayya added, "Hamas received the proposal two days ago and responded positively to it and agreed to it. It also responded to the proposal to form a community support committee to administer the Gaza Strip, with the new officials to assume their duties immediately after the agreement's implementation."
He explained that, "The Palestinian factions will not abandon their role or leave the Palestinian people at the mercy of Israel. He indicated that there is no possibility of displacement or deportation, stressing that the factions' weapons will remain present to protect the people and their national rights, and that they will represent a true guarantee for achieving an independent Palestinian state."
According to an Egyptian source who spoke to the Associated Press, the proposal includes Hamas releasing five hostages, including an American and an Israeli, in exchange for the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and a cessation of fighting for several weeks, in addition to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.