Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that Israel would not accept Hamas continuing to rule Gaza at any stage during the process to end the war, and that it was examining alternatives to the Palestinian militant group. Israeli forces bombarded several areas of Gaza as mediators called on Israel and Hamas to agree to a truce deal outlined by US President Joe Biden. Read our liveblog to see how all the day's events unfolded.
This live blog is no longer updated.
Summary:
-
Israel's military reported more air strikes and ground combat on Sunday in central Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city, as well as the Zeitun and Sabra areas in Gaza City in the north.
-
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Sunday that if Hamas agrees to the deal to end the Gaza war, the US expects Israel to also accept the plan.
-
Following a meeting with US and Israeli delegations in Cairo on Sunday, Egypt stuck with its position that Israel must withdraw from the Rafah crossing for it to operate again, Egyptian media reported. No aid has entered Gaza from Egypt since Israel seized control of the Palestinian side of the crossing on May 7.
-
At least 36,439 Palestinians have been killed and 82,627 wounded in Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. Some 1,170 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks and 250 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures, with 132 still missing.
Yesterday's key developments:
- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Saturday insisted on Hamas's destruction as part of the Israeli plan presented by US President Joe Biden to end the Gaza war. "Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel ... Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place.”
- Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed Saturday to support Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu if he goes ahead with the truce and hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden. Two of Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, threatened to quit his government if he goes ahead with the deal.
- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Saturday he was "thrilled" to accept an invitation to address the US Congress, where he plans to "present the truth" about the Gaza war.
Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. For more on the health ministry’s casualty figures, click here.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)
