US officials expressed confidence that a Gaza ceasefire would proceed as planned on Sunday, despite claims from Israel that Hamas was reneging on its commitments. Hamas, however, reiterated its commitment to the agreement. BBC correspondent Rushdi Abualouf reported that Hamas appeared to be seeking a last-minute concession for the release of one or two symbolic prisoners from its ranks.
The Israeli cabinet’s planned vote on the ceasefire was postponed, while heavy airstrikes continued in Gaza. The region’s health ministry reported dozens of fatalities due to Israeli attacks ahead of the anticipated truce. At Gaza’s southern crossing, aid trucks queued as international assistance sought entry. BBC correspondent Fergal Keane accompanied an aid convoy traveling from Jordan.
The conflict was triggered by Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and resulted in 251 individuals being taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a massive offensive on Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry claims has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths.
Disputes Over Ceasefire Agreement
Hamas denied Israel’s accusations of backtracking on the deal. Speaking to the BBC World Service’s Newshour, Bassem Naim, Hamas’ head of political and international relations, stated, “We are fully committed to the deal… This is the deal of May 2024 which we have accepted and agreed upon, and at that time it was rejected by Netanyahu and his government.” He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to “sabotage the positive atmosphere” due to his political struggles.
Naim also emphasized Hamas’ readiness to hold elections in Gaza, stating, “We are part of the Palestinian people… We are ready to give the people the choice to choose their leadership.” However, he avoided directly confirming whether Hamas would respect election results that rejected their leadership.
Heckler Disrupts Blinken’s Speech
In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s farewell press conference was interrupted by a heckler. The protester accused Blinken of complicity in Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, shouting, “How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide?” and claiming that “300 reporters in Gaza were on the receiving end of your bombs.”
The individual, who filmed himself while speaking, was escorted out by security. Responding to the incident, Blinken remarked, “I’ve got a few more things to say [then] I’m happy to take any questions about anything, as we’ve done these past four years.”
Debates Over Casualty Figures
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, 46,788 people have died in the conflict since Israel’s military operations began in October 2023. The figures, however, do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas fighters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have killed 17,000 Hamas combatants as of September 2024, though the methodology behind this figure has not been disclosed.
Zaher al-Wahidi, head of the Gaza health ministry’s information unit, explained the process for recording deaths, stating that deaths are verified either through hospital declarations or an online portal where families can report losses. This system, however, excludes those without valid identification, potentially leading to underreporting. Al-Wahidi acknowledged, “Many of those killed in conflict zones could be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.”
Israel disputes the reliability of the health ministry’s statistics but has not provided evidence to counter the claims. A study in the British medical journal The Lancet suggested that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, estimating 64,260 fatalities by June 2024. This contrasts with the ministry’s reported figure of 37,877 deaths at that time.
Global Reactions to the Ceasefire
The ceasefire deal has drawn mixed reactions from international leaders:
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi highlighted the extensive diplomatic efforts behind the agreement and stressed the importance of delivering urgent aid to Gaza until a sustainable peace is achieved.
- Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the ceasefire negotiations as part of his country’s diplomatic duty, expressing hope that the deal would help end the ongoing violence and suffering in Gaza.
- South Africa’s government called for a “just and lasting peace” that ensures the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis are respected.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office signaled Italy’s readiness to support Gaza’s stabilization and reconstruction efforts.
As international attention remains focused on the implementation of the ceasefire, aid organizations and diplomatic actors continue to emphasize the need for a resolution that addresses the root causes of the conflict.