U.S. and Israel Engage in Direct Talks Amid Ongoing Tensions in Gaza

An Israeli strike in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, has resulted in the deaths of five people, including two children aged eight and ten, according to Gaza's civil defense agency. The strike occurred near the Kuwaiti field hospital, which also reported that 32 others were wounded, some critically.

The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted a Hamas militant following a clash that left five Israeli soldiers injured. As the conflict continues, a fragile US-brokered ceasefire, effective since October 10, is under strain, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

The Israeli military reported that it had killed over 40 militants in operations targeting tunnels near Rafah in the past week. A prominent Hamas member indicated that around 60 to 80 fighters remain in the southern Gaza tunnel network.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Israel's military actions, suggesting there are strong indications of war crimes, stating that the operation exhibited a total disregard for civilian lives and led to extensive destruction of Gaza.

Guterres remarked, 'The objective was to destroy Hamas. Gaza is destroyed, but Hamas is not yet destroyed, indicating something fundamentally wrong with the operation.' Since the outbreak of violence following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,221 Israeli deaths, Israeli retaliatory actions in Gaza have reportedly killed at least 70,117 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which the UN considers reliable.

The health ministry also noted that 360 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire since the ceasefire began, while Israel reported the loss of three soldiers during the same period. The situation remains tense, with ongoing negotiations regarding the status of fighters in Gaza's tunnel networks, and the international community watches closely as direct talks between the U.S. and Israel unfold amid these escalating tensions.