Israeli attacks on Gaza kill 56 more; Hamas says ready for ceasefire talks
Hamas is ready to begin talks “immediately” based on a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to allow urgent aid into the besieged enclave
At least 56 Palestinians were killed today (5 July) in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including nine people near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid hub in northern Rafah, hospital sources told Al Jazeera.
Among the dead were three children. The total number of deaths at or near GHF distribution points — where Palestinians have gathered in desperate search of food — has now reached at least 743.
As Gaza's hospitals struggle to treat the wounded, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Israel's ongoing offensive has so far killed at least 57,394 Palestinians and wounded 136,013, according to the latest figures from Gaza's Health Ministry.
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Meanwhile, Hamas has said it is ready to engage in "immediate talks" on a 60-day ceasefire, aiming to allow desperately needed aid into Gaza.
The group's ally, Islamic Jihad, also expressed support for the talks but emphasised the need for firm guarantees that negotiations would lead to a permanent truce.
The announcement comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled visit to Washington, as international pressure grows on Israel to end the war—now entering its 21st month.
The conflict erupted following the 7 October 2023, Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,139 people in Israel, with more than 200 taken hostage.
