Israel's military announced on Saturday that they had recovered the body of a 47-year-old farmer who was held hostage in Gaza. Negotiators are gearing up for another round of talks on Sunday to broker a cease-fire and secure the release of the remaining hostages, six months into the war.
Israel's army confirmed that Elad Katzir's body was found and they believe he was killed in January by militants from Islamic Jihad. Katzir was abducted from Nir Oz, a border community that suffered significant losses during the conflict.
The discovery has increased pressure on Israel's government to reach a deal for the release of the remaining hostages. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to demand a resolution and early elections. Hostages' families are anxious as time passes, with at least 36 hostages confirmed dead and only about half of the original number released.
Katzir's sister Carmit expressed her frustration, stating, "He could have been saved if a deal had happened in time. Our leadership is cowardly and driven by political considerations, and that is why (a deal) did not happen."
The Israeli population is divided on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach and his government's actions. Last week, a massive anti-government protest took place in central Jerusalem, marking the largest demonstration since the war began.
In Gaza, the devastating impact of Israel's offensive is evident, with tens of thousands of deaths and over a million Palestinians displaced. The UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, highlighted the dire situation, warning of a potential man-made famine and condemning any further escalation in Gaza.
Cease-fire negotiations are set to resume on Sunday, as confirmed by an Egyptian official and Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera TV.
US President Joe Biden has dispatched CIA Director Bill Burns to Egypt.
A Hamas delegation is expected to participate in the talks on Sunday, as announced by the militant group.
Hamas is adamant about tying the gradual end of the conflict to any agreement on the release of hostages.
The group has indicated that it is willing to release 40 hostages as part of an initial six-week cease-fire deal, which would also involve the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention.
Hamas is also pushing for the repatriation of displaced individuals to the devastated northern Gaza region, as well as increased aid.
Israel has proposed allowing 2,000 displaced Palestinians — primarily women, children, and elderly individuals — to return to the north daily during a six-week cease-fire period.
These discussions follow widespread international criticism of Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of seven humanitarian workers from the World Central Kitchen charity.
The Israeli military has characterized the incident as a tragic mistake.
Humanitarian organizations have pointed out that such errors are not uncommon.
The UN reports that at least 190 aid workers have been killed in Gaza up to the end of March.
Certain allies of Israel are now contemplating suspending arms sales. Biden has cautioned Netanyahu that future US backing for the conflict hinges on the prompt implementation of new measures to safeguard civilians and aid workers.
“We require assurances of security not only for ourselves as humanitarians but also for the people we are assisting,” stated Marika Guderian from the World Food Program, speaking from Gaza.
The killings have disrupted aid deliveries via a critical new sea route directly to Gaza, at a time when the UN and its partners are warning of an “imminent famine” for 1.1 million individuals, or half of the population.
Oxfam, a humanitarian organization, reports that residents in northern Gaza are subsisting on an average of 245 calories per day.
Life has become difficult. My daughters keep asking for more variety in our meals, saying, 'Father, we are tired of eating mallow every day. We want something different like fish, chicken, or canned food. We are craving eggs, or anything else,'” shared Wael Attar. They are currently seeking refuge in a school along with 1.7 million displaced people in Gaza. Israel has made a commitment to open more border crossings into Gaza and increase the aid flow. The UN reported that in March, 85 percent of trucks carrying food aid were either denied entry or faced obstacles. The death toll from the conflict in Gaza has reached 33,137, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The ministry mentioned that the majority of the casualties are women and children, although it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel has accused Hamas of causing civilian deaths in Gaza by operating in residential areas and public spaces like hospitals. The WHO finally gained access to Gaza's largest hospital, Shifa, after a prolonged Israeli raid and discovered severe damage, with most buildings destroyed. The WHO also reported finding shallow graves and partially buried bodies outside the emergency department following the Israeli siege. The destruction of Shifa and Nasser, the main hospital in southern Gaza, has severely impacted the already struggling health system, according to the WHO. With more than half of Gaza's population now residing in Rafah, the southernmost city, Israel's threat of a ground offensive in the area has caused fear and warnings, even from the United States, Israel's top ally.
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