Israeli bombing of Gaza, more than 100 dead

More than 100 people lost their lives in attacks by Israeli forces on Gaza that continued throughout Friday night.

The attacks came as Israeli intelligence chiefs were in Paris for talks on a cease-fire and to “advance” progress on the return of prisoners held by Hamas.

The talks in Paris are taking place at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has announced a plan for the aftermath of the Gaza offensive.

The plan was heavily criticized by Israel’s main ally, the United States, and was rejected by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas on Friday.

Civilian fear is growing in the region and the United Nations has warned of a growing threat of famine. The UN’s main aid agency for the Palestinians, UNWRA, said Saturday morning that Gazans are “in grave danger as the world watches.”

AFP footage shows distraught Gazans queuing and protesting for food in the devastated northern enclave on Friday.

Ahmad Atif Safi, a resident of Jabalia, said, ‘Look, we are fighting each other for rice. where do we go?’

“We have no water, no flour and we are very tired because of hunger,” Jabalia resident Om Wajidi Silha told AFP. Fire and smoke cause pain in our back and eyes.

‘We cannot stand on our feet because of hunger and lack of food.’

The UN human rights agency OCHA said in a statement on Friday night on X: ‘Without health facilities, food and adequate supplies of water, the risk of famine in Gaza is likely to increase.’

According to the latest figures released by the Gaza Ministry of Health on Friday, at least 29,514 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Israeli offensive since October 7.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Friday destroyed the home of well-known Palestinian comedian Mahmoud Zitar, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens, the health ministry said.

The ministry announced on Saturday morning that at least 103 people were killed in the overnight attacks, with many more believed to be buried under the rubble.

Netanyahu presented to the war cabinet on Thursday night a post-offensive plan for Gaza in which the Palestinian Authority would run civilian affairs independent of Hamas.

The plan said that even after the offensive, the Israeli military would have “indefinite freedom” to operate throughout Gaza to prevent a resumption of terrorist activity.

It also said that Israel would create a security buffer zone along the Gaza border, which is already underway.

The plan was also criticized by the United States, and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Washington “has continued to be frank with its Israeli counterparts about what is needed in Gaza after the war.”

He said: ‘The Palestinian people must have one voice and one vote, through the restoration of the Palestinian Authority. The United States also does not believe in reducing the Gaza Strip.

Asked about the plan during a visit to Argentina, US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken said he would ‘reserve judgment’ until he saw all the details, but Washington was against reoccupying Gaza after the offensive.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan dismissed Netanyahu’s plan as unworkable.

Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation led by Israeli intelligence chief David Burnia is in Paris on Saturday to discuss new developments in a deal to return the remaining prisoners.

According to Israeli media, Birnia is accompanied by Ronan Barr, director of the Israeli agency Shin Bet Security Agency.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have had a keen interest in past talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and prisoner exchanges.

After more than four months of aggression, pressure is mounting on Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a ceasefire and prisoner releases.

A group representing families of prisoners plans a ‘massive rally’ ahead of talks in Paris on Saturday night to demand immediate action.

White House envoy Brett McGurk held talks with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant in Tel Aviv this week after meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Cairo.

Hamas sources say the new plan proposes a six-week cease-fire and the release of 200 to 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 35 to 40 prisoners from Hamas custody.

Barnia and his American counterpart at the CIA helped broker a week-long ceasefire in November that resulted in the release of 80 Israeli prisoners in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters earlier that talks were “going well” so far.

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