Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes Sunday as indirect truce talks resumed in Qatar. But hope for an imminent ceasefire remains shaky.
At least 82 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Sunday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with Israeli airstrikes hammering residential areas even as ceasefire negotiations resumed behind closed doors in Doha. The Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City was hit particularly hard — 39 people died there alone.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he believed a truce between Israel and Hamas could materialize “this week,” raising eyebrows across diplomatic circles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly left for Washington late Sunday night, is expected to meet Trump in person.
Blood and Dust: Gaza City Reels From Deadly Strikes
It was 2am when the first explosion tore through the night sky, jolting residents awake in Sheikh Radwan. Mahmoud al-Sheikh Salama, still in shock hours later, said it was like “an earthquake followed by a second one.”
People ran out barefoot. Some didn’t make it.
Al-Sheikh Salama described four families being buried under the wreckage. “We tried to pull out whoever we could. The screaming… the silence that followed… it’s hard to explain,” he told Al Jazeera.
A firefighter wiping ash from his face summed it up in one word: “Apocalyptic.”
Netanyahu Heads to Washington as Delegation Lands in Qatar
Even with bombs falling over Gaza, diplomacy trudged on. An Israeli delegation landed in Doha on Sunday for indirect talks mediated by Egypt, the U.S., and Qatar. Hours later, Netanyahu was reportedly on his way to Washington, signaling a possible turning point — or perhaps just another round of political theater.
Trump, speaking from his New Jersey golf club, painted an optimistic picture. “I think we’ll get the ceasefire done. It’s close — maybe this week,” he said.
The timing of Netanyahu’s U.S. visit raised questions, especially since the ceasefire proposal was largely brokered by the Americans.
One sentence stood out from the White House briefing: “We think both sides understand the stakes now.”
What Hamas Wants and Why It Still Feels Distant
Despite agreeing “in principle” to a U.S.-backed truce framework, Hamas continues to press for cast-iron guarantees — namely, a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a long-term end to the blockade.
According to a senior Hamas source, “This cannot be a pause to regroup. It must be the start of the end.”
Israeli officials, on the other hand, have called these demands “non-starters.” One official close to Netanyahu told Israeli media that “Hamas is still trying to win at the table what it couldn’t win on the battlefield.”
For now, it’s a standoff — with bombs and backchannels working simultaneously.
The Human Toll: A Glance at the Numbers
The death toll in Gaza since the conflict reignited in early 2025 has crossed 36,000, according to Palestinian authorities. The majority are women and children.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Sunday’s casualties based on local medical sources:
| Area | Reported Killed | Main Target Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Gaza City | 39 | Sheikh Radwan, Zeitoun |
| Rafah | 14 | Eastern residential blocks |
| Khan Younis | 10 | Market area |
| Central Gaza | 11 | UNRWA warehouse vicinity |
| North Gaza Strip | 8 | Road linking to Israel |
In all, hospitals treated over 200 wounded in a single day. Ambulance drivers, overwhelmed and exhausted, described it as “worse than any previous round.”
Ceasefire Hopes Stir Unease in Israel Too
While international pressure mounts on Israel to halt its military campaign, not everyone in Netanyahu’s coalition is on board. Far-right ministers such as Itamar Ben-Gvir have already threatened to pull support if the prime minister agrees to a full ceasefire without “eradicating Hamas.”
One Israeli protester outside the Knesset said, “We want peace, but not at the cost of bringing Hamas back into Gaza’s government.”
Still, there’s a quiet recognition in Tel Aviv that military victory may not be enough. As one security analyst put it: “You can destroy tunnels. But what do you do about ideology?”
That question remains unanswered.
The Trump Angle: Optics, Leverage, or Both?
Donald Trump’s involvement — loud, dramatic, and well-timed — has sparked criticism and hope in equal measure.
Critics say Trump is trying to score diplomatic points ahead of the Republican National Convention later this month. Supporters argue that his unfiltered approach could actually force both parties into a deal.
Some diplomats in Doha, however, remain skeptical. “Trump’s optimism doesn’t always match the facts,” said one European envoy. “But he’s gotten people to the table. That’s not nothing.”
For now, the ceasefire is a fragile idea — one being negotiated as bodies are pulled from rubble.
