Israel begins ground offensive in central Gaza Strip as Hamas prepares counter-offer of truce

He Israeli army This Thursday began a land offensive, supported by air and naval forces, in the Nuseirat refugee camp, in the center of the Gaza stripat the same time that the Islamic group Hamas is working on a counterproposal for a truce agreement, after rejecting most of the Israeli demands included in the last draft.

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The attacks have persisted since this morning in Nuseirat, where at least five people died in a Israeli bombing of a school and a residential building; and also in the devastated city of Linkwhere at least six people died in an attack on the Firas market.

“Military tanks infiltrated the northern part of Nuseirat, supported by airstrikes from combat helicopters,” according to the Palestinian agency Wafa. Vehicles destroyed a large number of residential buildings in the Zahra area.

The Israeli naval force also attacked “civilian homes” in the coastal refugee camp of Al Shati, west of Gaza city, according to local sources, causing an unknown number of victims in this and other areas north of the city.

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The Israeli Army confirmed that it had carried out “a precise ground operation” this evening, based on information from the Intelligence services, in the Nuseirat camp, where, according to a statement, Hamas militants and infrastructure were killed.

“Prior to the entry of troops into the area, Israeli Air Force fighter jets and additional aircraft attacked terrorist infrastructures above and below ground in the center of the Gaza Strip,” it detailed in the text.

He also confirmed “selective strikes along the coast” of the Al Shati camp, with the aim of “supporting ground troops operating in the area”.

In total, in the last 24 hours at least 63 people died in Gazawhich brings the total number of fatalities to 33,545 deaths since the start of the war.

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For its part, the UN child protection agency, Unicef, reported this Thursday that one of its trucks was attacked at the designated waiting point for aid convoys while waiting to cross the Israeli military checkpoint in Wadi Gaza. , on the way north. of the enclave. None of its workers were injured.

“It was an armored vehicle, it was clearly identified as a UN vehicle and we were in an area where we were told to wait,” Tess Ingram, spokeswoman for the organization, who was inside the truck when it received the shots, told EFE.

Rejection of most demands

Outside the enclave PalestinianNegotiations for a possible truce agreement continue, although Hamas may not return to the negotiating table in Cairoas Palestinian sources familiar with the conversations told EFE this Thursday.

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The group is said to be preparing a new document for Egyptian and Qatari mediators with a counter-proposal, after rejecting a proposal, promoted by the United States, that would allow the release of 40 hostages in Gaza in exchange for a temporary ceasefire of at least six weeks. and the release of around 900 Palestinian prisoners.

Palestinian sources did not elaborate on the 40 Israeli hostages held by Hamas who would be part of the exchange. But the American network CNN – citing an Israeli source and another close to the negotiations – highlighted that Hamas says it is unable to identify and locate 40 hostages among the 133 still captives (many of whom may be dead).

“It cannot be that they are going through hell there (in Gaza) only to die in captivity. There has to be hope. “Will they be granted the freedom that was so cruelly taken from them?”, appealed today Ofri Bibas Levy, sister of Yarden Bibas – who remains kidnapped with his wife and two children – at an event in kibbutz Nir Oz, attacked by Hamas. .on October 7th.

The four requirements that Hamas has been calling for a definitive ceasefire for months, according to Palestinian sources.the comprehensive withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the entry of humanitarian aid and the return of displaced people to the north, and the completion of a phased prisoner exchange to ensure a “proportionate” release.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.