The mediation efforts on Gaza have been suspended

Israeli attacks on southern militants in the conflict between the Palestinians and the Islamic State: a Gaza City warning, not a refugee camp

If there is serious political willingness on the part of both sides, then it’s highly probable that Qatar will come back to the negotiations, said one official.

A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that the country gave notice to Israel and Hamas 10 days ago that it would suspend mediation if an agreement was not reached in that round of talks. However, Qatar “would resume those efforts with partners when the necessary seriousness is available to end the brutal war and the ongoing suffering of civilians,” the spokesperson said.

One of the strikes in Gaza hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City’s eastern Tufah neighborhood, killing at least six people, the territory’s Health Ministry said. Two local journalists, a pregnant woman and a child were among the dead, it said. The Israeli army claimed it hit a militant with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, but gave no evidence or details.

Israel has continued with its campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza strip, even after its military said that it struck command centers and other militant infrastructure in the south of the country.

The Israeli military body that is in charge of aid to Gaza, COGAT, said on Saturday 11 aid trucks carrying food, water and medical equipment reached the enclave’s far north on Thursday. It’s the first time that aid has gone to the far north since Israel began a new military campaign there.

Some aid was not delivered at the agreed drop-off points, according to the UN World Food Program. The WFP said that in theurban refugee camp, the Israeli troops stopped one convoy and ordered the supplies to be off loaded.

Hamas regrouped, and Israel says it is the focus of its offensive. The areas that are affected are north of Gaza City.

The aid announcement came days before a U.S. deadline demanding that Israel improve aid deliveries across Gaza or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding.

Meanwhile, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, issued Thursday said there’s a strong likelihood that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza, the territory’s most isolated area.

The U.N. estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry said there were no ambulances or emergency crews operating north of Gaza City.

The UN has said that 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced by the conflict. Israel’s army has struck several schools and tent camps packed with tens of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes by Israeli offensives and evacuation orders.

The war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 250 others.

The terrorist group Hamas holds Americans hostage and has killed Americans. After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, the leaders should not be welcomed in the capitals of any American partner.

A U.S. senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity about sensitive diplomatic negotiations said Qatar had played an invaluable role in mediating with Hamas to secure the release of hostages last year.

In November of last year, they helped broker a temporary cease fire and the release of hostages from Israel who had been taken by Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinians were freed from Israel in the short-lived deal.

The small Arab country, a U.S. ally, has been involved in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group since the war in Gaza began.