World Desk

At least 32 people, including six children, were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, according to local health officials. The ongoing conflict, now in its 21st month, has brought the total Palestinian death toll to over 58,000.

Despite recent indirect negotiations aimed at securing a truce and the release of Israeli hostages, no progress has been made following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. A key point of contention remains the presence of Israeli troops during any potential ceasefire.

Israel has stated it will only end the war if Hamas disarms, surrenders, and goes into exile—demands Hamas rejects. Hamas has offered to release all remaining hostages, about 50 in total, including around 20 believed to still be alive, in exchange for a complete end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

On Sunday evening, families of Israeli hostages held a demonstration outside Netanyahu’s office. “Most of the Israeli public wants a deal, even if it means ending the war. And they want it now,” said Jon Polin, whose son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was killed in captivity.

The violence has also intensified in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Funerals were held Sunday for two Palestinians, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, reportedly killed by Israeli settlers.

Children Among Victims in Gaza Strikes

In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital reported receiving 10 bodies after an Israeli airstrike hit a water collection site in Nuseirat, killing six children. Witness Ramadan Nassar said around 20 children and 14 adults were waiting for water at the site, which many walk over a kilometer to reach. The Israeli military claimed the strike targeted a militant, but a technical error caused the munitions to miss by several dozen meters.

Elsewhere, an Israeli strike in central Gaza City killed 11 civilians and injured about 30. Among the dead was Dr. Ahmed Qandil, a surgeon on his way to Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

In Zawaida, another central town, a strike on a home killed nine people—including women and children—while a separate strike later killed two others nearby. The Israeli military claimed it was unaware of the home strike but said it had hit over 150 targets in the past 24 hours, including weapons depots and missile sites. It blames Hamas for civilian casualties, alleging that the group operates within densely populated areas.

Gaza’s Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reports that women and children make up over half of the 58,000 fatalities. While the ministry does not separate civilian and militant deaths, the U.N. and other agencies generally accept its data as the most reliable.

The war began after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251.

Meanwhile, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that Israel will not assist in rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, declaring, “Gaza should remain an island of ruins for decades.”

West Bank Mourns Palestinian-American Killed by Settlers

In the West Bank, violence continues to escalate. Funerals were held Sunday for Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet and his friend Mohammed al-Shalabi. Musallet’s family said he was beaten by Israeli settlers on his family’s land; al-Shalabi was reportedly shot in the chest. The Israeli military claimed Palestinians had thrown rocks, injuring two people and triggering a confrontation.

Mourners carried their bodies through the streets, chanting “God is great” and waving Palestinian flags. Musallet's relatives are urging the U.S. State Department to investigate his death and hold those responsible accountable. The State Department has so far declined to comment, citing respect for the family.