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Marchers confronted Palestinian shopkeepers, passers-by and schoolchildren as well as Israeli rights activists and police
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Sources confirm ceasefire deal includes two-stage hostage release and prisoner swap.
Gaza City – Hamas has reportedly agreed to a United States-brokered proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, sources familiar with the negotiations have told Al Jazeera.
According to the sources, the draft agreement includes a 60-day truce and a two-phase exchange involving the release of 10 Israeli captives, as well as the bodies of additional individuals, in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Under the proposed terms, five Israeli captives would be released at the beginning of the ceasefire, while the remaining five would be freed on the 60th day, upon the full implementation of the agreement.
Israeli airstrike hits school shelter
As diplomatic efforts to end the war continue, Israeli forces reportedly bombed a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, igniting a fire and killing at least 36 Palestinians, including several children. More than 50 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn on Monday, according to local sources.
US-backed aid group chief resigns
In related developments, the head of a US-backed aid organization operating in Gaza has stepped down, citing concerns about the group’s independence and neutrality in the escalating conflict.
Mounting casualties
The death toll in Gaza continues to rise sharply. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 53,977 Palestinians have been killed and 122,966 wounded since the war began. The Government Media Office places the actual death toll at over 61,700, including thousands believed to be buried under rubble and presumed dead. On the Israeli side, approximately 1,139 people were killed during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, and over 200 individuals were taken hostage, sparking the current round of violence.
Germany urges ceasefire and political solution
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “unacceptable,” stating that while Israel has the right to self-defense, the blockade on humanitarian aid must be urgently lifted.
“This requires an immediate ceasefire – and clear steps toward a two-state solution,” he said.
While Germany has largely supported Israel’s right to defend itself, Berlin has increasingly emphasized the need for adherence to international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Israeli opposition leader condemns Jerusalem day violence
Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has condemned attacks on Palestinians during a controversial march by ultranationalists through East Jerusalem on Jerusalem Day.
Calling the event a “festival of hatred,” Lapid said: “The violence, in which Jewish teenagers attack Arab neighborhoods, has already become a tradition. It is a disgrace and an insult to Judaism.”
He criticized members of the Israeli government for remaining silent, stating that they “bear responsibility” for the incidents.
Source: Aljazeera
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