Palestinian death toll in Israel-Hamas war passes 38,000, Gaza health ministry says

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip said Thursday that the Palestinian death toll after nearly nine months of war had passed 38,000.

The ministry said that in the past 24 hours, the bodies of 58 people were taken to hospital, bringing the total number of deaths to 38,011.

According to the report, more than 87,000 people were injured in the fighting.

The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in its count, but many of the victims are believed to be women and children.

THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. The previous AP article is reprinted below.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's cabinet was scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss Hamas' latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a gradual cease-fire in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts aim to end the the nine months war back to life after a week-long break.

Fighting has intensified between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, with the militant group claiming to have fired more than 200 rockets and explosive drones in northern Israel to take revenge the murder of a senior commander during an Israeli airstrike the day before.

The relatively low-level conflict has literally set fire to the borderand raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East. Hezbollah said he will stop his attacks if there is a ceasefire between Hamas – another Iranian-backed ally – and Israel.

United States has rallied global support Both sides are behind a plan that calls for the release of all hostages still held by the militant group in exchange for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. But so far, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

Hamas proposed “amendments” last month, some of which the United States says are unworkable, without providing details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the initial proposal was Israeli, but expressed doubts that it would end the war, a key Hamas demand.

Hamas confirmed Wednesday that it had sent a new response to Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, without providing details. A U.S. official said the Biden administration was reviewing the response, calling it constructive but adding that more work needed to be done. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official said Netanyahu would convene a cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest developments surrounding the negotiations. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the meeting with the media, spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel will likely hold additional consultations before making a final decision on any amended proposal.

Bassem Naim, a Hamas political leader, said the group had neither accepted nor rejected the U.S. proposal, and had “responded with some ideas to bridge the gap” between the two sides, without elaborating. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' top political leader, shared his suggestions with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials, the group said in a statement released Wednesday night.

U.S. officials said the latest proposal contained new language that was offered to Egypt and Qatar on Saturday and addressed indirect negotiations that are expected to begin in the first phase of the three-phase deal that U.S. President Joe Biden has struck. stated in a speech on May 31.

The first phase provides for a “total and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of the first phase. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all remaining men, civilians and soldiers, in the second phase. In return, Israel could release an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases would not take place until a “lasting calm” is achieved and all Israeli troops have withdrawn from Gaza. The third phase would see the return of the hostages' remains.

The transition from the first to the second phase seems to be the main sticking point.

Hamas fears that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands during negotiations. Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas will do the same, extending the negotiations and the initial ceasefire indefinitely without releasing the remaining prisoners.

In a lengthy television interview last month, Netanyahu said he was prepared to make a “partial agreement” He did, however, pledge to continue the war “after a pause” in order to destroy Hamas. Speaking later to the Israeli parliament, he said Israel remained committed to the deal proposed by Biden.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 in southern Israel, attacking several military bases and farming communities and killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They kidnapped 250 more people. more than 100 of them were released during a week-long ceasefire in November. The militants still hold about 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

Israel launched a major offensive in response to the October 7 attack that killed more than 37,900 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, who did not elaborate. How many were civilians or militants?The war caused widespread destruction across the territory, displacing most of its population of 2.3 million people. often several times — caused widespread hunger and fears of famine.

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Kareem Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Aamer Madhani contributed from Washington.

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