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Hamas seeks truce guarantees as 59 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza

Gaza health authorities said at least 59 people were killed by Israeli strikes
Gaza health authorities said at least 59 people were killed by Israeli strikes

Hamas is seeking guarantees that a new US ceasefire proposal for Gaza would lead to the war's end, a source close to the militant group said, as medics said Israeli strikes across the enclave had killed at least 59 people.

Israeli officials said prospects for reaching a ceasefire deal and hostage deal appeared high, nearly 21 months since the war between Israel and Hamas began.

Efforts for a Gaza truce have gathered steam after the US secured a ceasefire to end a 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran.

But on the ground in Gaza intensified Israeli strikes continued unabated, killing at least 59 people, according to health authorities in the territory.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war.

Hamas is seeking clear guarantees that the ceasefire will eventually lead to the war's end, the source close to the militant group said.

Those details were still being worked out, two Israeli officials said.

The aftermath of an Israeli strike on Mustafa Hafez school in Gaza City

Ending the war has been the main sticking point in repeated rounds of failed negotiations.

Egyptian security sources said Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working to secure US and international guarantees that talks on ending the war would continue as a way of convincing Hamas to accept the two-month truce proposal.

A separate source familiar with the matter said that Israel was expecting Hamas' response by Friday and that if it was positive, an Israeli delegation would join indirect talks to secure the deal.

The proposal includes the staggered release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 more who have died in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, sources say.

Of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 are believed to still be alive.

A senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said preparations were in place to approve a ceasefire deal even as the premier heads to Washington to meet Mr Trump on Monday.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who sits on Mr Netanyahu's security cabinet, told news website Ynet that there was "definitely readiness to advance a deal".

In Gaza, however, there was little sign of relief.

KHAN YUNIS, GAZA - JULY 03: Palestinians gather for receive food on July 03, 2025 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians are struggling with hunger due to Israeli attacks on Gaza and the lack of humanitarian aid. In Khan Yunis, a charity organization distributed food to displaced Palestinian
A UN Special Rapporteur called the situation in Gaza 'apocalyptic'

According to medics at Nasser hospital, at least 20 people were killed by Israeli fire en route to an aid distribution site.

Further north, at least 17 people were killed in an Israeli strike at a school in Gaza City, according to medics.

The Israeli military said it targeted a key Hamas gunman operating there and that it took precautions to reduce risk to civilians.

"Suddenly, we found the tent collapsing over us and a fire burning. We don't know what happened," Wafaa Al-Arqan, who was among the people sheltering there, told Reuters.

The war began when Hamas militants entered Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel's subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while displacing most of the population of more than 2 million, triggering widespread hunger and leaving much of the territory in ruins.

Israel says it will not end the war while Hamas is still armed and ruling Gaza.

Hamas says it will not lay down its weapons but is willing to release all the hostages still in Gaza if Israel ends the war.

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A UN expert calls Gaza situation 'apocalyptic'

A UN expert called on countries to impose an arms embargo and cut off trade and financial ties with Israel, which she alleged is waging a "genocidal campaign" in Gaza.

In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese said: "The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is apocalyptic."

"Israel is responsible for one of the cruellest genocides in modern history," she added, in a speech that was met with applause from the Geneva council.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Ms Albanese's speech.

Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, claiming a right to self-defence following the 7 October Hamas attack.

KHAN YUNIS, GAZA - JULY 03: People attend funeral ceremonies as more than 60 Palestinians lose their lives in attacks carried out by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip since the morning hours, on July 03, 2025 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. A funeral ceremony has been held in front of Nasser Hospital for the
A Palestinian man cries as he attends the funeral of family members killed by Israel in Gaza

Israel's delegate was not present in the room in line with a new policy to disengage with the council, which Israel claims has an anti-semitic bias.

Ms Albanese, one of dozens of independent UN-mandated experts to document abuses around the world, was presenting her latest report which named over 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza.

"What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed," she told the council.

"We must reverse the tide," Ms Albanese added, calling for states to impose a full arms embargo, suspend all trade agreements and ensure companies face legal consequences for their involvement in violations of international law.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva earlier this week claimed Ms Albanese's latest report was "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office".

Last week, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris brought a draft outline of the Occupied Territories Bill to the Cabinet.

The legislation will be known as the Israeli Settlements Prohibition of Importation of Goods Bill 2025.

The bill will ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territory by making any import from there an offence under the Customs Act.

Ireland to provide €4m to aid children in Gaza

Ireland is to provide €4 million to support children in Palestine access education.

The funding will be used to support the delivery of teacher training, provide school materials and help rebuild school buildings.

The Tánaiste said the funding brings Ireland's support for the people of Gaza and Palestine to €26m this year.

He added that Ireland has provided almost €80m in funding since October 2023, when the war between Israel and Hamas began following the Hamas attack on Israel.