Israeli strikes kill seven Palestinians in 48 hours as ceasefire talks stall in Cairo
A seven-month-old Palestinian infant was killed by Israeli forces on the West Bank on Friday, while six displaced civilians—including children—were killed by an Israeli drone strike in Gaza City on Saturday, as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remained deadlocked in Cairo. The deaths bring the total to seven Palestinians killed in Israeli operations over the past 48 hours, prompting condemnation from US Muslim rights groups and calls for Washington to reconsider military support for Tel Aviv.
On Friday, Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was shot dead by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank, according to local medical sources cited by Swedish newspaper *Expressen* . The same day, an Israeli drone struck a tent sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood, killing six people and injuring ten others, including children, according to medical sources reported by *Yeni Şafak* . The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced both attacks, urging the US to halt military aid to Israel .
Meanwhile, Hamas and Israeli mediators met in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, but the talks have yet to yield progress. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that the group is negotiating the first phase of the deal while pressing for an end to Israeli violations and improved humanitarian access . Israel has warned Hamas that failure to disarm could result in “severe consequences,” including the potential elimination of its commanders, according to a statement circulated by OSINT analysts .
The violence has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s military operations. Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi, who witnessed the 2022 killing of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces, was released from Israeli detention in April after three years without charge or trial. Speaking to *Mediapart*, he described his imprisonment as an attempt to silence journalism .
In a separate development, a suspected Hamas member was arrested on the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, accused of planning attacks in Europe . The arrest follows a string of arrests across Europe linked to alleged Hamas-affiliated networks, including the detention of a 32-year-old Iraqi man in New York on terrorism charges .
As the death toll rises and diplomatic efforts falter, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The UN has repeatedly warned of catastrophic conditions in the territory, where over 1.7 million people remain displaced. With both sides dug into entrenched positions, the prospects for a lasting ceasefire appear increasingly remote.