At least 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Friday, with most victims from Gaza City and northern Gaza. The widespread assault has pushed the death toll beyond 51,000 since October 23. Despite a ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to block the entry of food and essential aid into the Gaza Strip. This marks a further violation of the second agreement and worsens the humanitarian crisis.

Since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have taken control of 185 out of Gaza’s 365 square kilometers—around 50% of the territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that 30% of Gaza has been turned into a “buffer zone,” displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel is also working to block all cross-border access with Egypt. To divide Gaza more strategically, military corridors have been established in Philadelphi, Morag, and Netzarim. Around 80% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. At least 40 people were reported killed on Thursday, according to Civil Defense authorities.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya has announced that the group is ready to engage in comprehensive negotiations to release all hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and reconstruction aid for Gaza. He ruled out any interim deal. This comes a day after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 35 people, including 13 members of one family in Khan Younis. Meanwhile, over 120,000 people have signed 43 petitions on the ‘Restart Israel’ platform, demanding an end to the war and the release of all captives.

April 17 marked Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, commemorating the 1974 release of Mahmoud Bakr Hijazi—the first Palestinian freed from Israeli prison. Since 1967, Israel has detained over one million Palestinians—around 20% of the population. The number of detainees has doubled from 5,250 in 2023 to nearly 10,000 by April 2025. Protests erupted across the West Bank as families demanded the release of loved ones.

Israel has proposed a 45-day ceasefire in Gaza, but Hamas has rejected the condition of complete disarmament. As per reports, during the first week of the proposed ceasefire, Hamas would release 10 live hostages in exchange for Israel freeing 120 Palestinians serving life sentences and over 1,000 detained since October 7, 2023. Prior to the March 18 ceasefire breakdown, the IDF would withdraw to previous positions. Palestinians would be allowed to cross the Netzarim corridor, humanitarian aid would resume, and infrastructure reconstruction would begin. Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. would mediate negotiations aiming at a permanent end to hostilities. In the next phase, Hamas would provide evidence of living hostages and return the bodies of the deceased.

Israeli forces opened fire from helicopters in the city of Rafah on Wednesday. At least 23 Palestinians were killed in separate attacks across various enclaves since early morning. Heavy bombardments in the Jabalia refugee camp resulted in rising smoke plumes, while additional shelling was reported near Khan Yunis, close to the town of Al-Kabira.

Artillery fire also hit the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza. In the northern Jabalia camp, three people were killed. In the Al-Nafaq Street area of Tuffah neighborhood, at least 10 members of the Hasuna family were reportedly killed. Another airstrike in the Al-Shaf neighborhood resulted in three more civilian deaths.

For the first time, over 100 Jews were seen praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday, marking a significant deviation from long-standing agreements and customs. Historically, no more than 30 individuals were allowed to enter together, and while Jews could visit the compound, they were not permitted to pray there. This arrangement stems from a post-1967 agreement after Israel took control of East Jerusalem. Despite the agreement, Jewish groups have increasingly prayed at what they refer to as the Temple Mount, drawing criticism. Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has previously declared that only spiritually pure Jews should pray there, a stance Orthodox groups have criticized as discriminatory. Even some Israeli ministers have defied the agreement by praying at the site, raising fears of further tensions and violence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered northern Gaza on Tuesday and met with IDF troops. His office confirmed the visit, during which Netanyahu warned Hamas of “more strikes.” He showed Israeli soldiers a social media post by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, reiterating calls for Israel’s destruction. Over 51,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since the Israeli offensive began more than 18 months ago.

Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, has reported losing contact with the unit guarding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. A previously released video had shown Alexander alive, criticizing the Israeli government for failing to secure his release. Hamas has reiterated its willingness to release hostages if a “serious and permanent” ceasefire is ensured.

Egypt has proposed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, contingent on the disarmament of Palestinian factions. Hamas has firmly rejected the offer. According to a senior official, Egypt emphasized that no deal with Israel is possible without full disarmament. Hamas maintains that any agreement must prioritize an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza and a full withdrawal from Palestinian territories. Israel, on the other hand, insists that Hamas must be defeated, including the surrender of all weapons, before any ceasefire can be considered.

At least 39 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, pushing the death toll to nearly 51,000 since the conflict began. An additional 118 people were injured, raising the total number of injured to 116,274. Since March 18, when Israel resumed intensified air raids, 1,574 Palestinians have been killed and 4,115 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The UN reports that around 85% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, with 60% of the region’s infrastructure either damaged or destroyed.

Dina Khaled Zaurub, a 22-year-old Palestinian artist known for painting portraits of victims of Israeli bombings, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. In 2015, she received the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights award for her work highlighting the plight of children in armed conflict. Her family’s tent near the Sand Beach Resort in western Khan Yunis was hit by a bomb, resulting in her death.

Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday, coinciding with the second day of the Jewish festival Passover. Backed by Israeli police, 765 settlers entered the compound through the Al-Mughrabi Gate and launched coordinated attacks inside the mosque. The previous day, nearly 500 settlers had also entered and attacked the mosque. Passover is one of the most significant Jewish religious festivals, commemorating the exodus of Israelites from Egypt under Prophet Moses.

A Hamas delegation currently participating in negotiations in Cairo has described the ongoing talks aimed at ending the war in Gaza and opening border crossings for humanitarian aid as “responsible” and “positive.” Hamas confirmed that discussions are also underway with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah regarding the reconstruction of Gaza and the integration of Palestinian institutions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “We remain open to new proposals as long as the talks focus on a full cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces,” the group stated. “We will not compromise on our legitimate demands: a total end to the war, Israeli withdrawal, Gaza’s reconstruction, recognition of our political rights, and an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

In the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 37 Palestinians across Gaza, including six brothers who were distributing food to the hungry. The WHO reported that bombing near Al-Ahli Arab Hospital resulted in a child’s death due to disrupted medical services. Since 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed 50,944 people and injured 116,156 in Gaza. Since March 18 alone, 1,574 Palestinians have died and 4,115 more injured.