US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Washington on Wednesday to discuss Gaza's post-war future. The diplomatic push comes as ceasefire talks show little progress and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens significantly.
President Donald Trump is personally chairing a separate White House meeting featuring what officials describe as "a comprehensive plan" for Gaza's reconstruction. The high-level diplomatic engagement signals intensifying US commitment to resolving the 16-month conflict.
Gaza City evacuation declared inevitable
Israel's military announced that Gaza City's evacuation is "inevitable" as it prepares a major offensive against the territory's largest city. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces have surveyed empty areas south of the city to assist evacuating residents with tent space and aid distribution infrastructure.
More than 80% of the Gaza Strip is already designated as an Israeli military zone or subject to displacement orders. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are currently sheltering in Gaza City, where some health and infrastructure services remain operational.
Hospital strike sparks international outrage
An Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis killed at least 20 people, including five journalists and emergency responders. Israel's military said it would investigate the attack but offered no immediate explanation for striking the hospital twice.
The strike has intensified international pressure on Israel, with 209 former EU ambassadors and senior diplomats issuing a public letter demanding urgent action. Pope Leo XIV called for a permanent ceasefire and condemned what he termed "collective punishment" of Palestinians during his weekly Vatican audience.
Starvation deaths mount amid aid restrictions
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 313 people have died from starvation and malnutrition, including 119 children. Ten people died from hunger-related causes in the past 24 hours alone as the humanitarian crisis worsens.
Only 14% of required humanitarian supplies have been allowed into Gaza in the past month, according to aid organisations. The overall death toll has reached 62,895 Palestinians since the war began, with around half being women and children.
Ceasefire negotiations continue
Hamas announced last week it accepted a ceasefire plan from Arab mediators that would include a 60-day truce and hostage releases. The proposal is described as "almost identical" to an earlier draft that Israel had previously accepted.
Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive. The war began after Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 others in the October 7, 2023 attack.
Sources used: "The Independent", "The Guardian", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
