GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — More than 100 Palestinians were killed overnight in the deadliest wave of Israeli airstrikes in recent days, Gaza health authorities said Sunday, as ceasefire talks brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States stalled without resolution.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the escalating bombardment, which follows days of intensified strikes reportedly preparing the ground for a new offensive aimed at achieving “operational control” in parts of the Gaza Strip.
“We have at least 100 martyrs since overnight. Entire families were erased from the civil registry by Israeli bombardment,” said Khalil Al-Deqran, spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry, in a phone interview with Reuters.
Negotiators from Egypt and Qatar resumed indirect ceasefire talks with Israel and Hamas in Cairo on Saturday, but no breakthrough was reported. A source familiar with the process told Reuters that Hamas proposed releasing roughly half of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners. However, a Hamas official said Israel remained unwilling to commit to ending the war.
“Israel’s position is unchanged. They want their prisoners without agreeing to a ceasefire,” the Hamas official said.
In the background, speculation intensified over the fate of Mohammed Sinwar, brother of slain Hamas chief Yehya Al-Sinwar, amid reports in Israeli and Arab media that he may have been killed in recent airstrikes. Hamas has not confirmed his death. Israeli defense officials declined to comment.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is expected to engage separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming days to push for a resolution, after previously expressing support for a ceasefire in coordination with NATO allies.
One of the most harrowing strikes occurred in Khan Younis, where an Israeli missile hit a tent encampment housing displaced families. Women and children were reportedly among the dead. The blaze engulfed dozens of tents, leaving survivors scrambling for safety.
Hamas condemned the attack as a “new brutal crime” and accused the U.S. administration of enabling Israeli escalation through continued military and diplomatic backing.
Among the casualties were five journalists, some of whom died alongside family members. One of the victims was Zakaria Al-Sinwar, a university lecturer and brother of the Hamas leader. Medics confirmed he and three of his children were killed when their tent was struck in central Gaza.
Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, already reeling from months of bombardment, is now near total collapse. The Gaza Health Ministry said the Indonesian Hospital, one of the last semi-functional medical facilities in the north, ceased operations Sunday due to repeated Israeli shelling nearby.
“We are overwhelmed. Most of the casualties are children,” said Deqran. Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, received 40 bodies and dozens of wounded overnight and has issued urgent appeals for blood donations.
Fuel shortages have paralyzed emergency response services. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said 75% of ambulances are now non-operational, warning that all rescue operations could cease within 72 hours if fuel remains blocked.
Since early March, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, in an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. The government has also approved a military plan that could involve seizing the entire Gaza Strip and controlling the flow of aid, a move criticized by international humanitarian groups.
In Israel, public frustration is growing. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the 58 known Israeli hostages, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over the lives of captives.
“They’re tormenting us. Bring our children back. All 58 of them,” she wrote on X.
The Israeli military offensive, launched after Hamas’ October 7 assault that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in about 250 hostages, has devastated Gaza. According to local authorities, more than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly the entire population displaced.
