Israel Expands Ground Offensive in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Resume in Doha
Israel has launched a significant ground assault in Gaza following a night of intense airstrikes that killed more than 100 people and led to the shutdown of the last operational hospital in northern Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The latest Israeli military campaign, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots”, aims to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages. The operation was announced Friday and expanded Sunday, targeting both northern and southern Gaza as the death toll continues to mount. Over 300 have been killed and 1,000 injured since Thursday, per a CNN count based on health ministry data.
Ceasefire Talks Resume, But Progress Is Uncertain
In the background, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel resumed in Doha, Qatar, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. Hamas initially floated a proposal to exchange seven to nine Israeli hostages for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 300 Palestinian prisoners. But the group later walked back those claims, reiterating that any deal must include a full cessation of hostilities backed by international guarantees.
Israel has said it is open to ending the war only if Hamas surrenders, a condition the group has firmly rejected. The talks were reportedly revived following President Donald Trump’s visit to Doha, where discussions with Qatari officials are said to have prompted renewed efforts toward a ceasefire.
Gaza’s Healthcare System Near Collapse
The situation on the ground has reached critical levels. The Indonesian Hospital, the final functioning medical facility in northern Gaza, was forced to shut down after nearby bombings damaged essential systems like ventilators and oxygen supply.
“All public hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip are now out of service,” the Palestinian Health Ministry announced. Medical officials from Al-Awda Hospital and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) reported devastating conditions, with bombing near hospitals, critical shortages of supplies, and impeded access to emergency care.
A statement from MAP described the situation as “beyond alarming.”
U.S.-Backed Aid Plan Sparks Controversy
As international concern over famine in Gaza intensifies, Israel agreed Sunday to allow “a basic amount of food” into the Strip. The move follows mounting pressure and is intended to avert a humanitarian catastrophe, the Israeli government said.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American-backed NGO, praised the development as a “bridging mechanism” while their aid network is finalized. However, critics, including the United Nations, warn the model may facilitate forced displacement, especially with the initial aid sites only located in southern and central Gaza.
Hostage Crisis and Rising Civilian Casualties
While Israel claims the operation is coordinated with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the group has raised alarms that continued military action could endanger hostages’ lives.
“The current policy is killing the living and erasing the dead,” said Dr. Hagai Levine, who co-authored a new report on the hostages’ plight.
Meanwhile, civilians continue to suffer. In southern Gaza’s Al-Mawasi displacement camp, entire families—including infants—have been killed in airstrikes. Witnesses describe tragic scenes of people being killed while sleeping, as international appeals for restraint go unanswered.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, with women and children comprising the majority.
