Israel‘s Assault on Gaza Continues, 23 Dead in 24 Hours
In the past 24 hours, at least 23 people have lost their lives in the Palestinian territories as Israel maintains its offensive in the Gaza Strip, with the overall conflict toll now exceeding 45,360 fatalities. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported this grim figure on Wednesday (25/12/2024), citing a surge in violence that has left more than 107,803 injured since the conflict began on 7 October 2023.
However, as fighting intensifies, prospects for a ceasefire seem to be improving. Hamas and two other Palestinian groups have stated that a truce agreement with Israel is closer than ever, provided there are no new conditions imposed by Israel. The groups, which include Islamic Jihad and the left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, issued a rare joint statement reflecting this sentiment following talks in Cairo last Friday (20/12).
A senior Hamas official recently strengthened this optimism, asserting that significant progress has been made on ceasefire and prisoner exchange issues in recent days. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, the official stated, "Most of the points related to the issues of cessation of hostilities and prisoner exchange have been agreed upon."
As the situation on the ground remains tense, peace advocates continue to urge for a halt to the violence and a return to meaningful dialogue to end this protracted conflict.
