3 July 2025
Special Report
At least 33 Palestinians seeking aid are among 73 people killed across Gaza since dawn on Thursday, medics said, amid mounting horror over deadly violence at Israeli and US-backed aid distribution sites.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and bloodshed after what they called “unprovoked gunfire” targeting crowds waiting for food near the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) facilities.
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of committing 26 “bloody massacres” in the past 48 hours alone, reporting more than 300 Palestinians killed during that period.
The latest escalation came as Hamas confirmed it is reviewing new proposals for a temporary ceasefire, following US President Donald Trump’s claim that Israel had agreed to the “necessary conditions” for a 60-day truce.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump insisted the US would “work with all parties to end the war,” urging Hamas to accept the offer. “It will not get better, it will only get worse,” he wrote.
However, the announcement has sown confusion, as Israel has yet to publicly endorse the framework. A senior Hamas official said the group remains willing to negotiate if any deal guarantees a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
“The core issues remain unresolved,” the official said, warning that previous ceasefire efforts collapsed because Israel refused to commit to a permanent halt in military operations.
Israel’s war on Gaza has now killed at least 57,012 Palestinians and wounded more than 134,500, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, more than 11,00 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, when more than 200 were also taken captive.
Israel says it will not agree to any ceasefire without the release of the remaining hostages, more than 20 of whom are still believed to be alive.
Despite US pressure for a truce, Israeli bombardment continued overnight. Air strikes levelled residential blocks, and artillery fire was reported near Rafah and Gaza City.
Aid agencies have repeatedly condemned attacks near distribution points. More than 400 Palestinians are reported to have been killed attempting to reach food convoys in recent weeks.
With no clear consensus among mediators or the warring parties, the prospects for even a temporary cessation of hostilities remain uncertain.
Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the coming days, where he has promised to be “very firm” in pressing for an agreement. But after nearly nine months of war, many fear that any pause will be fragile, and that civilians will continue to bear the brunt of a conflict with no end in sight. (ST)
