Israeli forces intensified bombardment of Gaza City overnight while Hamas leaders arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks, as 24 nations including the UK issued a joint statement warning of catastrophic famine conditions. The diplomatic pressure comes amid reports of starvation deaths mounting in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes targeted eastern Gaza City neighborhoods overnight, killing at least 11 Palestinians according to medical sources. Witnesses reported attacks on residential areas in Zeitoun suburb and central Gaza City, with additional strikes in Khan Younis killing a family in their home. The Israeli military stated it was investigating the reports while emphasizing precautions to minimize civilian harm.
Simultaneously, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations through Egyptian mediators. The talks aim to salvage a U.S.-backed proposal that collapsed in late July over Hamas’ demand for a guaranteed war cessation versus Israel’s insistence on eradicating the group first. A Hamas official indicated openness to governance compromises but refused disarmament before Palestinian statehood.
The diplomatic development saw foreign ministers from 24 nations—including the UK, Canada, Australia, France and Japan—issue an urgent joint statement describing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as reaching ‘unimaginable levels.’ They demanded Israel allow unrestricted aid access to reverse what they termed an ‘unfolding famine’ threatening Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
Gaza’s health ministry reported five more starvation deaths in the past 24 hours, including two children, bringing total malnutrition fatalities to 227 since the war began. This comes as the UN World Food Programme warns over 500,000 Gazans face famine conditions. Israel disputes the starvation statistics but acknowledges coordinating over 1,000 aid trucks last week.
The conflict context traces to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s subsequent offensive has claimed over 61,000 Palestinian lives according to Gaza officials. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned October ground offensive in Gaza City has drawn domestic military criticism and international condemnation over potential humanitarian consequences.
Humanitarian impacts continue escalating with widespread infrastructure destruction, displacement of 90% of Gaza’s population, and collapsing health services. The joint statement marks significant pressure from traditional Israeli allies who cited ‘the risk of famine and spread of disease’ as requiring immediate action on aid access.
Next developments hinge on Cairo ceasefire talks resuming Wednesday, where Hamas seeks war termination guarantees while Israel maintains its destruction remains non-negotiable. Concurrently, international pressure mounts for Israel to open land routes as Netanyahu’s planned Gaza City offensive looms in October, potentially worsening the famine crisis.
