Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill At Least 70 Following Ceasefire Agreement, Residents Say

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza overnight, hours after a ceasefire deal was announced to end 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., calls for a six-week truce and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 people in Gaza overnight, according to residents and authorities, just hours after a ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal were announced to end the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The ceasefire deal, which emerged on Wednesday after mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., is set to take effect on Sunday. It includes a six-week initial truce, during which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed. In exchange, Hamas would release hostages it has held, and Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel would be freed.

While the agreement is pending official approval by Israel’s security cabinet and government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of making last-minute demands and reneging on parts of the deal. A vote by Israel’s security cabinet was expected on Thursday, but Netanyahu’s office stated that the cabinet would not convene until the mediators confirm Hamas’s acceptance of the agreement.

Hamas, on the other hand, has expressed its commitment to the ceasefire. Senior official Izzat el-Reshiq confirmed on Thursday that the group supports the deal, though Israeli hardliners are still hoping to block it. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both threatened to quit the government if the ceasefire goes ahead.

Calls for Quicker Implementation
Some Palestinians have urged for the ceasefire to be implemented sooner, expressing frustration over delays. "We lose homes every hour. We demand for this joy not to go away," said Gazan resident Mahmoud Abu Wardeh.

While people in Gaza and Israel celebrated the news of the agreement, Israeli military airstrikes continued. Palestinian Civil Emergency Service spokesperson Mahmoud Basal reported 71 deaths and at least 200 injuries.

The Israeli military has said it is looking into the reports of these casualties. At a press conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said ongoing talks with Israel and Hamas were focused on finalizing the agreement’s implementation.

Global Reactions and Future Stages
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the deal, emphasizing that it would halt the fighting, provide essential humanitarian aid to Gaza, and reunite hostages with their families. Former President Donald Trump, set to take office on Monday, also took credit for the deal.

For Israelis, the idea of releasing Palestinian militants with life sentences for deadly attacks in Israel has been controversial. Still, public opinion surveys show significant support for a deal that could secure the release of hostages, despite the perceived high cost.

If successful, the ceasefire could end a conflict that has devastated Gaza, killed over 46,000 people, and displaced most of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents. It could also reduce tensions across the Middle East, where the war has ignited conflicts in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, and raised concerns of a broader regional war, particularly with Israel’s arch-nemesis, Iran.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal will involve the release of 33 hostages, including all women, children, and men over the age of 50. The second phase will include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. The final phase will address the return of deceased individuals and the start of Gaza's reconstruction, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.

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