Violence Surges Amid Ceasefire Talks
Israeli soldiers killed Gaza: As hopes rise for a potential U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza, fresh violence erupted on Tuesday, July 7, 2025. Israeli forces lost five soldiers in northern Gaza, while Israeli airstrikes killed 18 Palestinians, including women and children.
The deaths come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington to discuss ending the 21-month-long Gaza conflict, which has claimed over 57,000 Palestinian lives and 888 Israeli soldiers since 2023.
Beit Hanoun Attack: A Lethal Blow to Israeli Forces
According to an Israeli security official, explosive devices detonated during an Israeli operation in Beit Hanoun, followed by gunfire from militants targeting evacuation teams. In addition to the fatalities, 14 Israeli soldiers were wounded, two critically.
This marks the deadliest day for Israeli forces since a similar ambush killed seven soldiers two weeks earlier.
Palestinian Civilians Killed in Southern and Central Gaza
At the same time, airstrikes in Khan Younis killed eight people—four in a tent shelter, and another four from one family, including a mother, father, and two children.
In central Gaza, a separate Israeli airstrike on a group of civilians killed 10 people and injured 72, according to Awda Hospital in Nuseirat. The Israeli military has not commented but maintains that Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties due to its operations in densely populated areas.
Ceasefire Proposal: A Fragile Opportunity
The latest deaths occurred as the U.S. pushes for a 60-day ceasefire that would:
- Pause all military operations
- Allow massive humanitarian aid into Gaza
- Secure the release of at least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages held by Hamas
President Donald Trump, still riding the momentum from last month’s ceasefire between Israel and Iran, is urging both parties to finalize an agreement quickly.
The Roadblock: War’s End or Just a Pause?
The biggest sticking point remains the definition of the ceasefire:
- Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war in exchange for releasing all hostages.
- Netanyahu insists that the war won’t end until Hamas disarms, surrenders, and goes into exile, which Hamas has refused.
War Toll: A Devastating Cost
- “Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 57,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children.”
- 888 Israeli soldiers have died
- The initial Hamas attack killed 1,200 Israelis.
- 251 hostages were taken; most have been released
The Gaza Health Ministry, though run by Hamas, provides the only comprehensive casualty figures, widely cited by the UN and international agencies.
Source: AP News
