Israeli air strikes kill 73 overnight as Gaza ceasefire negotiations 2025, including a hostage swap with Hamas, face obstacles

Israeli air strikes on Gaza killed 73 people overnight as Gaza ceasefire negotiations 2025 continue. The region is preparing for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, set to start on Sunday, pending approval from the Israeli cabinet. Among the victims are 12 people from a residential block in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The strikes, which targeted 50 sites, follow Israel’s response to Hamas’s 7 October attack that left 1,200 dead and led to 251 hostages being taken. Israeli forces confirmed the killing of a man linked to the attack. Gaza’s health ministry claims over 46,788 deaths since the conflict began, with widespread displacement and severe shortages crippling the enclave.

The ceasefire deal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, proposes a six-week phased agreement. Initially, 33 hostages—women, children, and elderly—will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops are expected to retreat eastward, allowing displaced Gazans to return and facilitating humanitarian aid. Further phases include the release of remaining hostages and Gaza’s reconstruction, though the United Nations warns rebuilding efforts will be monumental, with 40 million tons of rubble needing clearance.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal dissent, with right-wing ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir threatening to resign if the ceasefire proceeds. However, these resignations are unlikely to derail the agreement. Hamas insists it remains committed to the terms, assuring mediators of its approval.

The fragile ceasefire offers a brief respite, but deep divisions remain. Observers believe the current deal, while halting active conflict, will not address the long-term roots of the Israel-Gaza crisis.

The proposed Gaza ceasefire negotiations 2025 bring a temporary halt to the violence, offering a brief moment of hope for many. However, questions remain about its long-term impact. While the immediate focus is on the exchange of hostages and humanitarian relief, the deeper, unresolved issues of the Israel-Gaza conflict may continue to fuel tensions and instability in the region.