Escalating Gaza Conflict Displaces 90% of Residents as Cease-Fire Talks Progress Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, successive Israeli evacuation orders have displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, according to the top U.N. humanitarian official for the Palestinian territory. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden are working to end the war, as the International Rescue Committee highlights that the polio virus has reemerged in Gaza due to the destruction of hospitals and infrastructure, overcrowding, and poor living conditions.

Cease-fire talks in Cairo, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, have made some progress, but disagreements remain, particularly over Israel’s demand for lasting control over strategic corridors in Gaza.

The conflict started on October 7 when Hamas and other militants launched an attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages, with around 110 still in Gaza. In response, Israel’s offensive has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The U.N. is urging for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to vaccinate over 600,000 children against polio, as the first confirmed polio case in Gaza in 25 years was reported. The U.N. and WHO are coordinating efforts to vaccinate children, but the success of this plan depends on agreements for humanitarian pauses from Israel, Hamas, and other militants. Despite the arrival of refrigerated trucks in Gaza, vaccines have yet to be delivered.

In related developments, Israeli airstrikes injured seven civilians in Syria, with the strikes reportedly targeting Hezbollah-linked sites. Meanwhile, cease-fire talks continue, with the U.S. indicating that progress has been made but that significant challenges remain. The negotiations involve high-level U.S. officials, including CIA Director William Burns.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced criticism from families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. These families expressed frustration over the lack of a cease-fire deal that could lead to their loved one’s release. The pressure on Netanyahu increased after Israeli troops recovered six hostages’ bodies from an underground tunnel in Gaza.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have escalated, with at least seven people, including a child, killed in five airstrikes on Friday. The strikes are part of the ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border, which have resulted in numerous casualties on both sides over the past 10 months.

German airline Lufthansa has extended its suspension of flights to some Middle Eastern destinations, including Tel Aviv and Tehran, but will resume services to Amman and Irbil. The suspensions reflect ongoing concerns about safety in the region amid the conflict.

Finally, U.N. officials report that the displacement of 90% of Gaza’s population due to Israeli evacuation orders has severely impacted civilians, depriving them of basic needs like medical care and shelter. The U.N. emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians, release hostages, and facilitate humanitarian access, as the conflict continues to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.