Hope Whispers, Bombs Fall: Ceasefire Looms as Gaza Bleeds

Israel continued its relentless airstrikes on Gaza despite Hamas declaring its readiness to begin immediate negotiations on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.

This announcement from the militant group sparked cautious optimism that a ceasefire might be reached soon, potentially halting nearly 21 months of intense conflict.

Saturday, July 5, 2025, saw a comparatively calmer day in Gaza following days of heavy bombardment, according to aid workers and local residents.

However, violence persisted, with hospital officials reporting that 24 Palestinians lost their lives, including ten individuals who were seeking humanitarian aid.

Air raids targeted tents in the Mawasi coastal region in southern Gaza.

This resulted in the deaths of seven people, among them a Palestinian doctor and three of his children, medical staff at a nearby hospital confirmed.

Additional fatalities included four people in Bani Suheila and three separate casualties in the town of Khan Younis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had not immediately responded to queries regarding these specific attacks.

Israel’s security cabinet was scheduled to meet after sunset on Saturday.

Although Jerusalem officials indicated there was “no guarantee” that a decision would be made about Hamas’s response to the ceasefire proposal during the session.

In a separate incident, two US contractors working with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were wounded in southern Gaza after unidentified assailants threw grenades at a food distribution center, the organization reported.

The GHF, a US-supported private entity that began distributing food parcels in Gaza last month, has been the subject of significant controversy.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the foundation, calling it “inherently unsafe” and accusing it of “killing people.”

The GHF has vehemently denied these allegations, emphasizing that it has safely delivered tens of millions of meals in the region.

In recent weeks, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by IDF gunfire or shelling while traveling to GHF aid sites.

Some have been killed while assembling in large crowds to receive supplies from UN convoys, convoys which are often delayed or looted.

Humanitarian workers in Gaza have renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire, warning that fuel stocks for non-governmental organizations are nearly depleted.

The loss of fuel would lead to the “complete collapse” of vital humanitarian operations, including much of the health system and communications infrastructure.

Gaza’s electricity largely depends on diesel fuel to power generators.

“We have about half a day’s worth of fuel left.

“Once it’s gone, everything will shut down,” said a humanitarian worker stationed in Deir al-Balah.

Israel has maintained a stringent 11-week blockade on Gaza following the collapse of the last ceasefire in March.

The blockade has only been partially eased to allow limited food aid and medical supplies into the territory.

No fuel shipments have been authorized, and remaining supplies within Gaza are often located in areas controlled by Israel or conflict zones, making them inaccessible.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Washington on Sunday for discussions with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has publicly expressed a desire to see the Gaza war end, including through several social media posts.

Draft documents of the ceasefire proposal, reviewed by an online media, suggest that Trump would personally announce any agreement.

It will possibly be during Netanyahu’s Washington visit in the coming days.

Yet, sources close to Hamas say the group seeks firmer assurances that the initial truce will lead to a permanent end to hostilities and the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Disputes also remain over which entities would be permitted to deliver “sufficient aid” as outlined in the draft.

Hamas demands the closure of the GHF, while Israel insists on maintaining a distribution system independent of the UN or other international actors.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday night, Trump conveyed optimism about the prospects for a ceasefire, suggesting “there could be a Gaza deal” next week.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reports indicated multiple negotiation steps remain, including visits by separate Israeli delegations to Qatar and Egypt.

The draft agreement also names Steve Witkoff, Trump’s personal envoy, as the figure who will travel to the Middle East to finalize the deal.

Analysts warn this process could delay the announcement of any formal agreement.

The current conflict was sparked by a surprise Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.

During this attack, militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251, of whom 50 remain captive in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.

In retaliation, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 57,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, figures that are widely regarded as credible by the United Nations and many Western governments.

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