Iran and Israel reached a truce; speculations arise about possible Gaza peace negotiation.
In the aftermath of a grueling 12-day clash between Israel and Iran, punctuated by the US's bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and Iran's symbolic retaliation, a US-brokered truce seems to be holding strong. However, Israel's offensive in Gaza shows no signs of easing, with Israeli fire claiming hundreds of lives in Gaza since the Iran-Israel conflict erupted.
While Iran dominates the headlines, the Palestinians and hostage families ensnared in the Middle East's longest war have slipped from the limelight, overshadowed by the devastating blows between two formidable regional powers.
Since Israel's attack on Iran initiated on June 13, over 860 people in Gaza have lost their lives due to Israeli fire, according to CNN's daily death toll calculations from the Palestinian health ministry. On Tuesday, Seven Israeli soldiers met their end in Khan Younis due to a bomb attached to their armored carrier during ongoing skirmishes in southern Gaza.
There are subtle indications that the rapid cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could accelerate a breakthrough in the stagnant Gaza peace talks. US President Donald Trump stated that American strikes on Iran's nuclear sites could pave the way for a breakthrough in Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, and that he was "very close" to hammering out a deal on the conflict.
"I think great progress is being made on Gaza. Because of the attack that we made, I think we’re going to have some very good news," he told reporters during the NATO summit.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called for the truce between Israel and Iran to expand and include Gaza. "Those who can achieve a ceasefire with Iran can also end the war in Gaza," the group said, advocating for the return of the hostages held by Hamas. 50 hostages remain captive within the enclave, with 20 believed to still be alive, according to the Israeli government.
"To conclude this decisive operation against Iran without leveraging our success to bring home all the hostages would be a grave failure," the forum added, emphasizing the critical opportunity now at hand. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid echoed these sentiments, writing on social media: "And now Gaza. This is the moment to close that front as well. To bring the hostages home, to end the war. Israel needs to start rebuilding."
Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas, expressed hope that indirect talks would resume within the next two days. The Qatari prime minister confirmed that negotiations are ongoing and that talks between Qatar and Egypt with both sides are aimed at finding common ground regarding the proposed US-conceived truce.
The truce in question calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the bodies of a further 18 Israelis taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks as part of a 60-day ceasefire. Earlier this month, Hamas confirmed that they hadn't rejected the deal but demanded stronger guarantees about the conflict's conclusion.
"Mediators in the Gaza conflict are using the momentum created by the ceasefire between Israel and Iran to restart the stalled negotiations," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari told CNN.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "there is no doubt that our major achievements in Iran also contribute to our goals in Gaza" since Iran has provided financial and military support for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Netanyahu also hinted at an offramp from the war in Gaza, saying: "Look, this war could end tomorrow. It could end today, if Hamas surrenders, lays down its arms, releases all the hostages, it’s over. It’s over in a moment. They refuse to do that."
Meanwhile, the focus for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shifts back to Gaza now that the ceasefire with Iran is in effect. "Many challenges still lie ahead. We must stay focused, there's no time to rest on our laurels," Zamir said in a statement. "Now the focus shifts back to Gaza - to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime." Hamas has stated that they are open to a truce but are adamant about not laying down their arms.
For Gaza's 2.1 million inhabitants, there has been no respite from over 20 months of death, violence, and desperation. Over 55,000 people, including more than 17,000 children, have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Moreover, the United Nations has repeatedly sounded alarm bells about the likelihood of a man-made famine in the territory, with attacks on civilians attempting to access food supplies escalating, according to the health ministry.
In a recent UN statement, the Office for the High Commissioner on Human Rights labeled Israel's actions "a likely war crime." The IDF responded by stating, "Following incidents in which harm to civilians who arrived at distribution facilities was reported, thorough examinations were conducted in the Southern Command and instructions were issued to forces in the field following lessons learned." Philippe Lazzarini, executive director of UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, highlighted the growing concerns of Palestinians and many supporting humanitarian organizations: "Atrocities continue in Gaza while global attention shifts elsewhere."
CNN's Oren Liebermann, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting.
This story has been updated.
Correction: OHCHR was the UN body that issued Tuesday's statement.
The world watches as US politics and global news continue to unravel complex issues in the Middle East, with war-and-conflicts like the recent escalation between Israel and Iran dominating headlines. Despite the US-brokered truce between Israel and Iran seemingly holding strong, the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, where over 860 lives have been lost since June 13, remains a significant concern for regional politics, General News, and the general public. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called for the truce to expand and include Gaza, emphasizing the critical opportunity at hand to bring hostages home and end the war in Gaza.
