Sat Apr 26 15:18:45 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Death Toll Rises as Ceasefire Efforts Falter
**Deir Al-Balah, Gaza Strip –** At least 49 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as international efforts to revive a stalled ceasefire continue to struggle. An airstrike in western Gaza City flattened a building, killing 10 people, while further casualties were reported in the Shati refugee camp. Israel has yet to comment on the attacks.
Hamas has sent a high-level delegation to Cairo to engage with Egyptian officials in renewed ceasefire talks. The group’s demands include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and reconstruction efforts. While earlier discussions centered on a five-to-seven year truce and prisoner exchanges, a resolution remains elusive. Israel, meanwhile, maintains its blockade of Gaza, despite warnings of dwindling supplies and a humanitarian crisis.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has confirmed that its food reserves in Gaza are depleted, leaving hundreds of thousands reliant on charity kitchens, which are themselves expected to run out of food in the coming days. Approximately 80% of Gaza’s population of over 2 million depends on these kitchens for sustenance.
The ongoing conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, has claimed the lives of over 51,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed around 20,000 militants, though evidence remains lacking. The conflict continues to center on the release of hostages held by Hamas and Israel’s stated goals of disarming Hamas and potentially resettling the Gazan population.
First Piper 