In the wars It is customary that, during the hours before its end, the enemy redoubles his attacks, that he says goodbye with a festival of bombings, violence and destruction that leave a mark on the land that is planned to be abandoned. That seems to be happening right now in the Gaza Strip. In the final stretch of the talks for a cease-firethe Israeli Army does not slow down its attacks and has killed 62 Palestinians in the last 24 hours. Residential buildings and schools converted into shelters have once again been the target of Hebrew bombs, raising the total number of fatalities to 46,707 Palestinians from October 7, 2023.
Ya van three days of brutal attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave. In turn, Israeli troops continue to order the forced displacement of people. The Arab spokesman for the Army, Avichay Adraeepublished on X this Wednesday a warning for residents of the Jabalia area, north of the Strip. “For your safety, go immediately to the shelters in the center of Gaza City,” he said, alleging that “terrorist organizations” are “launching rockets from the area.” Israel has issued such orders throughout the war and has frequently bombed calls humanitarian zones of the enclave.
Northern Siege
Also in the north, the siege does not stop. Israeli artillery shelling has cut off power to the Indonesian hospitalin Beit Lahiya. Military vehicles have begun to ravage the western side of the medical center. The three main hospitals in northern Gaza have been forcibly closed throughout the hundred days of harsh military campaign against the territory, which has devastated more than 5,000 Palestinian lives. The United Nations has denounced that the Israeli authorities continue to deny access to its aid missionsrejecting two attempts to reach hospitals in northern Gaza on Tuesday.
But not only in the northern part of the enclave do the attacks continue, but Israeli warplanes continue without giving a respite to the Palestinians throughout the Strip. Unicef has reported that, in the first 15 days of 2025, at least 120 children have died in Gaza because of the war. “The murder of children must end, not tomorrow, not next week, NOW,” he published on his X account. In addition, the NGO Save the Children has stated that Israel’s use of explosive weapons in Gaza over the past year sentenced an average of 475 children every monthor 15 children a day, to disabilities potentially permanent.
“Tonight or tomorrow”
Meanwhile, not far from the shock of the bombs, each of the parties involved is finalizing the details of their response to the proposed ceasefire agreement. Based on Israeli and Palestinian sources, the Hebrew media claim that Hamasthrough the leader Mohamed Sinwarhas responded “positively” to the entente and that is “about to be signed”. It could be “tonight or tomorrow.” The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Benjamin Netanyahudenies that Hamas has given the “green light” to the agreement. A Palestinian official has told Reuters that the Palestinian group gives its verbal approval to the ceasefire agreement, but is awaiting more information to give a final written agreement.
If he security cabinet Israeli approves the agreement – and within 48 hours there are no appeals – the conditions could begin to apply this same domingo. A foreign source involved in the negotiations has acknowledged that it is not clear whether the deal will be completed today or tomorrow. Probably this Wednesday night or Thursday morning the Israeli Government will meet to ratify the entente, while a Hebrew source has said that Israel trusts that the first hostages to be released before next Monday, when Donald Trump return as American president to the White House.
Pressure on Smotrich
Netanyahu, accompanied by his Defense Minister, Israel Katzhas met with the Finance Minister, the radical settler Bezalel Smotrichwith the intention of convincing him to give your support to the agreement. In turn, the Minister of National Security, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvirhas launched a campaign to persuade like-minded Members of Parliament to resign from the Government if such a deal is approved. As staunch opponent to the ceasefire, Ben Gvir has been trying for days to persuade his coalition partner Smotrich to leave the cabinet together if it is ratified.
Smotrich insisted this Wednesday in a video that the war in Gaza must continuebut has not explicitly said whether he will support or oppose the agreement. The Prime Minister could have promised resume fighting after the first phase of the ceasefire, which includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for a thousand Palestinian prisoners. Public broadcaster Kan has reported that Netanyahu has offered Smotrich and Ben Gvir “gains for the right” in exchange for them remaining in the government. These advances could be the construction of more settlements in the occupied West Bank and greater security along the dividing line between that territory and Israel.
