Israeli Forces Intensify Operations in Gaza City as Ceasefire Talks Stall

Israeli forces pushed further into Gaza City's largest area, chasing militants who had regrouped there. This action on Monday forced thousands of Palestinians to flee from a region already devastated by the nine-month-long conflict. Hamas claimed it showed flexibility in indirect talks about a cease-fire and hostage release, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of creating obstacles, including the latest escalation.

Residents reported heavy artillery and tank fire, along with airstrikes. The Health Ministry in Gaza, with limited access to the north, did not immediately report casualties. Sayeda Abdel-Baki, a mother of three who had sheltered with relatives in the Daraj neighbourhood, said, "We fled in the darkness amid heavy strikes. This is my fifth displacement."

Evacuations and Humanitarian Crisis

The military ordered evacuations before the raids, but Palestinians said nowhere feels safe. Most of the 2.3 million population has been displaced multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are crammed into sweltering tent camps. Israel had ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza in the early weeks of the war and has prevented most people from returning. However, hundreds of thousands remain, living in shelters or damaged homes.

Israel issued additional evacuation orders for other neighbourhoods in central Gaza City. The military claimed intelligence showed militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were in the area and urged residents to move south to Deir al-Balah. Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of hiding among civilians.

Cease-Fire Negotiations

Israel and Hamas appear closer than ever to agreeing on a cease-fire deal that would pause fighting in exchange for releasing dozens of hostages captured by Hamas during the October 7 attack that triggered the war. CIA Director William Burns returned to the region on Monday for talks in Cairo, according to Egypt's state-run Qahera TV. An Israeli delegation was also heading to Cairo, as reported by Israeli media.

Despite progress, obstacles remain even after Hamas agreed to relent on its key demand that Israel commit to ending the war as part of any agreement. Officials told The Associated Press that a significant part of this shift is due to the destruction caused by Israel's ongoing offensive.

Challenges in Reaching an Agreement

Hamas still wants mediators to guarantee that negotiations will conclude with a permanent cease-fire, according to two officials familiar with the talks. The current draft states that mediators—the United States, Qatar, and Egypt—"will do their best" to ensure negotiations lead to an agreement to end the war. Israel has rejected any deal that would force it to end the war with Hamas intact—a stance Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday.

Hamas stated on Monday it is "offering flexibility and positivity to facilitate a deal," while accusing Netanyahu of "putting more obstacles in the way of negotiations." The two officials also mentioned an impasse over whether Hamas can choose high-profile prisoners held by Israel for release in exchange for hostages. Some prisoners were convicted of killing Israelis, and Israel does not want Hamas deciding who gets released.

Impact on Civilians

Maha Mahfouz fled her home with her two children and many neighbours from Gaza City's Zaytoun neighbourhood. She said their area was not included in the latest evacuation orders but added, "We are panicked because the bombing and gunfire are very close to us." Fadel Naeem, director of Al-Ahli hospital, said patients fled even though there was no evacuation order for their area.

Marwan al-Sultan, director of Indonesian Hospital, said it received 80 patients from Al-Ahli who were packed into "every corner." He noted many cases required urgent surgeries and intensive care due to direct shots in the head. Fuel and medical supplies are dwindling. He also reported receiving 16 bodies from the Israeli incursion, half of them women and children.

Ongoing Violence

The war has killed over 38,000 people in Gaza according to its Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for Civil Defense first responders under Hamas-run government, said areas like Tufah, Daraj, and Shijaiyah had become inaccessible due to Israeli bombing.

In a voice message, Bassal mentioned that military shelling in Gaza City's Jaffa area left people lying on the ground whom first responders could not retrieve. The conflict has decimated urban landscapes and sparked a humanitarian catastrophe.

The cross-border raid by Hamas on October 7 killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians according to Israeli authorities. Militants took roughly 250 people hostage; about 120 remain captive with around a third believed dead.