Israel kills two in Gaza, Trump envoy to return to Middle East

By Staff Reporter
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in southern Gaza after cutting off aid to the Gaza Strip and reneging on the ceasefire deal, as Hamas insists on advancing the truce into a second stage.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff “plans to return to the region in the coming days to work out either a way to extend phase one or advance to phase two”, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters.
Canada, Germany, Spain and Turkiye have joined the chorus of concern over Israel’s renewed blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, with Ankara calling the move “collective punishment” and a blatant violation of international law.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,388 Palestinian deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza while 111,803 people have been wounded. The Government Media Office updated its death toll to at least 61,709, saying thousands of Palestinians missing under the rubble are presumed dead. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and more than 200 were taken captive.