Fighting rages on in Gaza as pressure on Israel grows

GAZA — Fierce fighting has been continuing across the Gaza Strip after hopes were raised over the weekend for another ceasefire and hostage release deal.

In the past 24 hours, there’ve been deadly Israeli air strikes from the north to the south of Gaza. Attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp are said to have killed 90 people, according to local health officials.

Israel says it goes to great lengths to avoid hitting civilians. But the mistaken killing of three of its own hostages carrying a white flag on Friday has added to international and domestic pressure for another ceasefire deal which could free some of the 120 others still believed to be held captive in Gaza by Hamas.

On Sunday, some of Israel’s closest European allies pressed for a ceasefire in the war with Hamas on Sunday, underscoring growing international unease with the devastating impact of the conflict on Gaza’s civilian population.

The concerted push by top European diplomats comes ahead of a visit to Israel on Monday by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is also expected to put pressure on Israeli leaders to end the war’s most intense phase and transit to a more targeted strategy against Hamas.

At the UN Security Council, the US is said to be seeking to tone down the words of a new draft resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities to allow greater humanitarian access.

In response to calls from Washington, Israel has now opened its Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza for the first time since the outbreak of the war, in a move intended to increase the amount of food and medicine reaching Gazans.

The UN Security Council could vote later on a proposal to demand that Israel and Hamas allow aid access to Gaza via land, sea and air routes.

The AFP news agency reports there is new resolution planned for Monday, drawn up by the United Arab Emirates, calling for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.

The new resolution also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and affirms support for a two-state solution.

The US blocked a previous security council resolution calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire”. — Agencies