Israel kills at least 70 Palestinians in Gaza as Hamas says ready for truce talks

CAIRO – 5 July 2025: Israeli forces continue to kill dozens of Palestinians in Gaza every day despite growing hope for a possible ceasefire soon. The enclave’s health ministry said hospitals received 70 deceased and 332 injured over the past 24 hours.

There are still many victims under the rubble and on the streets, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them, the ministry noted.

Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, Israel has killed over 57,300 Palestinians, including 6,780 since Israeli forces in March shattered a ceasefire brokered by mediators that led to the release of dozens of Israeli captives and allowed thousands of aid trucks to access the famine-stricken enclave.

Deaths include nearly 600 people humanitarian aid seekers near the distribution centers of the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American newly-established organization backed by Israel and which Hamas has called “death traps.”

Israel has also inured nearly 136,000 people in airstrikes and gunfire since the start of the war.

‘Hopes for Ceasefire’

Egypt, Qatar and the US have intensified their efforts to communicate a recent 60-day ceasefire proposal to Israel and Hamas, and so far, both sides seem to give the nod for the deal’s framework.

Sources told Al Qahera News on Friday that Hamas’s response to the ceasefire proposal includes a willingness to engage in indirect negotiations aimed at implementing the truce, effective upon approval.

Hamas said in a Telegram post on Friday that they completed consultations with Palestinian factions regarding the proposal, noting that they have submitted “a positive response” to end the Israeli aggression against people in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump said earlier this week said he hopes Hamas accepts the proposal “because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” asserting that Israel has agreed to the “necessary conditions” to reach the deal.

During the period of the proposed ceasefire, Trump said the US will “work with all parties to end the War.”