Tel Aviv — A surge of hope for a breakthrough in Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks drew CIA Director William Burns back to the Middle East this week, but optimism has been tempered by a devastating Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza. The attack killed at least 29 people at the Al Awda school in Khan Younis, according to an official at the nearby al-Nasser Hospital.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it used a “precise munition” in the strike on the school to kill a militant involved in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks, which resulted in almost 1,200 deaths. The IDF stated it is reviewing the incident but has consistently blamed Hamas for all civilian deaths, accusing the group of using Palestinian civilians as human shields and storing weapons in schools, hospitals, and homes.
The IDF has launched a new assault further north in Gaza City, prompting another evacuation of Palestinian civilians. Images posted online Wednesday showed people holding fliers dropped by the military, urging them to leave. Hundreds of thousands of people trapped in Gaza have fled from the fighting multiple times already.
The United Nations has described the forced exodus as “dangerously chaotic,” with medical personnel at two hospitals rushing to move patients. The IDF said medical facilities did not need to evacuate, but previous raids at other hospitals in Gaza have left medical staff fearful.
Hamas has warned that the new assault could “reset the negotiation process to square one,” despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing to send a delegation to restart the talks. Netanyahu’s agreement came after Hamas responded to the latest cease-fire proposal with requested changes, but both sides remain at odds on key points of a staged truce process. One of the biggest obstacles is Netanyahu’s insistence that any cease-fire agreement allows his military the option to resume operations against Hamas.
Alon Pinkas, a former advisor to four Israeli foreign ministers and a vocal critic of Netanyahu, told CBS News that he believes Netanyahu does not genuinely want a cease-fire. “He’s just taking them for a ride,” Pinkas said, criticizing Netanyahu for allegedly manipulating the situation to maintain his political position.
Netanyahu has accused Hamas of blocking progress in the talks, suggesting the group is not serious about negotiations as it continues military operations against Israel during discussions. The White House has consistently backed Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas and has continued supplying U.S. weapons to the country. However, President Biden and his administration have pressured Netanyahu to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and limit civilian casualties in the conflict, which medical officials in Gaza say has killed more than 38,200 Palestinians.
In March, President Biden announced a project to boost the flow of aid into Gaza—a floating pier built by the U.S. military on Gaza’s coast at a cost of over $230 million. The pier project, intended as an additive measure rather than a solution to the humanitarian crisis, has faced logistical challenges, primarily weather-related. The pier has not managed to facilitate a significant flow of aid materials and was knocked out of service by rough seas. Operations on the pier were set to be reestablished this week, but the structure could be permanently dismantled soon, according to U.S. military officials.
The ongoing conflict and recent developments have further complicated the already fragile cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. As both sides navigate the challenges of negotiation, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and its impact on the Middle East conflict.