Ceasefire Talks in Jeopardy After Deadly Gaza Strikes

A senior Hamas official stated that the group remains engaged in ceasefire talks with Israel despite deadly strikes in Gaza targeting military leaders. Strikes killed at least 90 Palestinians, disrupting negotiations in Doha and Cairo. Israeli forces continue operations, and Gaza's health ministry reports high civilian casualties.

A senior Hamas official reaffirmed on Sunday that the Islamist group has not stepped back from ceasefire negotiations with Israel, despite this weekend's lethal attacks in Gaza aimed at its military chief, Mohammed Deif. However, Izzat El-Reshiq, a member of Hamas’ political office, accused Israel of attempting to sabotage mediation efforts by Arab nations and the U.S. by intensifying assaults in the region.

Saturday's airstrike in Khan Younis, which local health authorities say claimed at least 90 Palestinian lives, has cast a shadow over the ceasefire dialogues. Recently, encouraging signs suggested that a deal might be on the horizon to cease hostilities and address the issue of hostages held in Gaza.

Two Egyptian security officials reported that ceasefire discussions in Doha and Cairo were suspended following three days of rigorous negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with his top ministers on Sunday to review the situation.

Saturday’s attack also resulted in the death of Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis brigade, but Deif’s status remains uncertain, according to Israeli military sources. Meanwhile, Hamas has denied Deif’s death, accusing Israel of fabricating the claim to justify its attack.

On Sunday, Israel continued aerial and ground assaults in Gaza, heavily displacing the 2.3 million residents of the enclave. A missile strike on a UN school sheltering refugees in Nuseirat camp killed 15 Palestinians and injured dozens.

Israel contended that the site was a Hamas operational base and emphasized efforts to minimize civilian casualties using precision munitions and accurate intelligence. Residents reported that the missiles struck the upper floor of the school, near a busy market and refugee shelters.

Earlier on Sunday, airstrikes on four homes in Gaza City resulted in at least 16 deaths and numerous injuries, as medics reported. Gaza’s health ministry stated that Israel's military campaign since October 7 has resulted in 38,584 Palestinian deaths and 88,881 injured; most casualties are claimed to be civilians.

Israel has reported 326 military casualties, asserting that around one-third of Palestinian deaths are combatants. The conflict erupted after a violent Hamas-led incursion into Israel on October 7, which left 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, and around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.