Israel Rejects Ceasefire Pressure as Gaza Genocide Continues

Israel is rejecting ceasefire pressure while continuing bombardment that Gaza health authorities say has killed over 64,000 Palestinians, about half women and children.

“The US is working to ease tensions between its allies Israel and Qatar following Israel’s recent deadly airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas negotiators, which Qatar condemned as "state terror”

The Guardian

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting U.S. Senator Marco Rubio publicly rejected ceasefire calls and insisted the war will continue until Hamas is destroyed and hostages are released.

The Guardian

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim, and multiple Arab and Muslim leaders call Israel’s campaign a genocide; Israel denies the genocide charge and disputes the death toll without offering its own numbers.

The war followed Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel and led to 251 abductions, with families still demanding the release of remaining hostages.

Israel expanded the conflict by bombing Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.

Qatar’s emir stated that the attack sabotaged ongoing mediation efforts.

Kapitalis

Arab and Muslim leaders convened in Doha to discuss the situation.

GCC states held talks about joint defense measures.

Turkey’s President Erdogan advocated for economic sanctions against Israel.

Local and Western media reported that leaders issued strong statements but took few concrete actions.

A draft declaration accused Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing, blockades, and colonization.

The U.N. Human Rights Council moved to debate the strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that Israel might target Hamas leaders in Qatar again and emphasized that the strike was Israel’s decision.

In Washington and European capitals, officials pushed clashing agendas as Israel continued killing Palestinians in Gaza.

“Qatar hosted a summit of Arab and Islamic leaders aiming to present a united response to Israel’s recent attack on Hamas leaders in Doha”

Los Angeles Times

Rubio attacked international recognition of a Palestinian state and aligned with Netanyahu.

Israeli hardliners advanced annexation plans and Israel approved the E1 settlement project that would split Palestinian communities.

Britain punished Israeli institutions by banning Israeli personnel from a premier defense college.

The U.N. Human Rights Council scheduled an emergency session on Israel’s strikes in Qatar.

Civil society launched a humanitarian flotilla from Tunisia to break Israel’s Gaza blockade.

Mediation and hostage talks continued to progress.

EL PAÍS Uruguay reports, based on interviews with anonymous officials, that Jared Kushner and U.S. envoy Brett McGurk traveled to Egypt to advance a deal.

PBS

The proposed deal involved the group holding hostages releasing all Israeli captives without demanding a full Israeli withdrawal if Israel guaranteed no return to war.

Israel was prepared to release thousands of Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.

Talks stalled over disagreements about how much Gaza land Israel would vacate.

Former President Trump called Israeli negotiator Ron Dermer during the discussions.

Al Jazeera reports some progress in U.S.- and Egypt-mediated hostage talks even as Israel continued bombing.

Qatar’s leadership condemned Israel’s strike in Doha as “state terrorism” and accused some parties of dishonesty regarding hostage efforts.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has not ruled out additional strikes in Qatar.

On the ground, Israel’s bombardments and demolitions continue to kill civilians and force mass displacement.

“A recent summit in Doha, Qatar, brought together regional leaders to discuss security guarantees in the Gulf amid escalating tensions involving Israel”

United News of Bangladesh

The UN warned that escalating Israeli offensives in famine-stricken Gaza will worsen the humanitarian crisis.

United News of Bangladesh

The Guardian reports hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are scarce, and Israel ordered up to 1 million people to evacuate Gaza City; many cannot leave.

PBS documents Israeli airstrikes killing civilians, including a family and a journalist, while Israel tells Palestinians to move to “humanitarian zones” where shelter is limited.

Gaza’s Health Ministry—treated by the UN as credible—reports more than 64,000 Palestinians killed, about half women and children.