Israeli airstrikes claim lives of 19 in Gaza, Including 6 children

Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of 19 people in Gaza on Sunday, including six children, according to Palestinian health authorities. This deadly escalation comes just ahead of a high-stakes visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, aimed at pushing forward ceasefire talks.

In one of the most heart-wrenching incidents, health officials reported that six children and their mother were killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted their home in the central town of Deir Al-Balah. The Israeli military has yet to provide a comment on this particular strike.

The violence continued unabated on Saturday, with at least 17 Palestinians killed and dozens more injured in an Israeli strike on the Gaza town of Zawayda. Meanwhile, the Israeli military asserted it had destroyed rocket launchers in Khan Younis, a city that has seen intense fighting in recent weeks, and claimed to have killed 20 Palestinian fighters.

Diplomatic efforts to halt the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict have gained momentum, with intensified negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and returning hostages held in Gaza. Talks mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are set to continue in Cairo this week, following a two-day meeting in Doha last week.

Secretary Blinken’s upcoming visit marks his 10th trip to the region since the war broke out, highlighting the urgency and complexity of the situation. This follows the United States’ recent bridging proposals, which mediating countries believe could help close the gaps between the warring parties.

The urgency to reach a ceasefire deal has increased amid fears of a regional escalation. Iran has threatened retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

As the war drags on for ten months, the people of Gaza find themselves in a dire state of desperation and displacement. “There is nothing left to us but the sea,” lamented Tamer Al-Burai, a resident of Deir Al-Balah living with several extended family members. “We are tired of displacement. People are being pushed into narrow areas in Deir Al-Balah and Al-Mawasi, which have become pressure cookers,” Burai told Reuters via a chat app, noting that tanks were ominously close, just 1.5 kilometers away.

The international community watches with bated breath as diplomatic efforts continue, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring an end to the suffering and pave the way for peace in the embattled region.