The U.S. is currently leading another round of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
It comes as there has been ongoing violence at aid centres in Gaza, with reports that at least 21 were Palestinians were killed while accessing aid on Sunday.
Here’s the latest.
Ceasefire
Last week, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff proposed a ceasefire deal to Israel and Hamas.
The deal would include a 60-day ceasefire, during which time 10 living and 18 dead hostages would be released in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.
During this time, all Israeli military operations would “cease” and humanitarian aid would be “sent into Gaza... through agreed upon channels” including the UN.
Israel has accepted this proposal. Hamas has called for changes to the proposal, including assurances that the ceasefire would hold after the 60 days.
Witkoff said Hamas’ response was “totally unacceptable and only takes us backwards.” He urged Hamas to accept the deal so the parties can begin “substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire.”
In a joint statement, Qatar and Egypt, who have been hosting ceasefire talks, repeated Witkoff’s request to begin a 60-day ceasefire as a starting point “for a permanent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.”
Aid attacks
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While ceasefire negotiations remain ongoing, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported on Sunday that at least 21 people were shot dead at an aid centre in southern Gaza.
The ICRC said it was “the highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident” since it established its field hospital in southern Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) denied shooting at civilians and called these reports “false”.
GHF centre
The aid centre where the incident occurred is being operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a non-government organisation with U.S. and Israeli support.
The GHF currently operates out of four distribution hubs, each capable of feeding 300,000 people.
The World Health Organisation has previously said the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza faces prolonged food shortages following a months-long Israeli blockade.
Response
In response to reports, the GHF said: “There was no gunfire in the [distribution] centre and also not in the surrounding area... All aid was distributed today without incident. We have heard that these fake reports have been actively fomented by Hamas. They are untrue and fabricated.”
In a post to X, UN Relief Works Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini criticised GHF.
He claimed it was a “humiliating system [that’s] forced thousands of hungry and desperate people to walk for tens of miles to an area that’s all but pulverised due to heavy bombardment by the Israeli Army.”
