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Israel says it will let food into Gaza after announcing new ground assault

Israel says it will let food into Gaza after announcing new ground assault

The Herald19-05-2025

Asked about the Qatar talks, a Hamas official told Reuters: "Israel's position remains unchanged. They want to release the prisoners (hostages) without a commitment to end the war."
Hamas was proposing to release all its Israeli hostages in return for an end to the war, the pull-out of Israeli troops, an end to a blockade on aid for Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners, the Hamas official said.
A senior Israeli official said there had been no progress in the talks so far.
Israel's declared goal in Gaza is the elimination of the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas, which attacked Israeli communities on October 7 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 251 hostages.
In Israel, Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, said Netanyahu was refusing to end the war in exchange for the hostages for political reasons.
"The Israeli government continues to insist on only partial deals. They are deliberately tormenting us. Bring our children back. All 58 of them," Zangauker said in a social media post.
One of Israel's overnight strikes hit a tent encampment housing displaced families in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing women and children, wounding dozens and setting tents ablaze, medics said.
Later on Sunday, Gaza's health ministry said the Indonesian Hospital, one of the largest partially functioning medical facilities in northern Gaza, had ceased work because of Israeli fire.
Israel's military said its troops were targeting "terrorist infrastructure sites" in northern Gaza, including in the area adjacent to the Indonesian hospital.
Hamas did not confirm reports on Sunday in Arab and Israeli media that its leader, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed in last week's airstrikes in a tunnel below another hospital further south in Gaza.
Gaza's healthcare system is barely operational and the blockade on aid has compounded its difficulties. Israel blames Hamas for stealing aid, which Hamas denies.
"Hospitals are overwhelmed with a growing number of casualties, many are children," said Al-Deqran, the health ministry spokesperson.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said 75% of its ambulances could not run because of fuel shortages. It warned that within 72-hours, all vehicles may stop.
Reuters

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