Intensifying Violence in Gaza and Lebanon as Ceasefire Talks Continue

Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon escalate, with mounting casualties, as U.S.-backed efforts to broker a truce face resistance from Hezbollah.

Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza have killed dozens, including 22 in one neighborhood, as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 43,985, mostly civilians, according to UN-verified data from Gaza's health ministry.
The conflict, ignited by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel in October 2023, has expanded to Lebanon, where Israeli forces are clashing with Hezbollah, resulting in over 3,550 deaths in Lebanon since September 2023.
The U.S. has proposed a 60-day truce and deployment of the Lebanese army in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon, but Hezbollah has rejected any conditions imposed by Israel.
American envoy Amos Hochstein has reported progress in truce negotiations but faces challenges as Israeli leaders insist on maintaining military operations even if a ceasefire is reached.
The U.S. vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, drawing criticism as the humanitarian situation in the region worsens, with tens of thousands displaced in both Gaza and Lebanon.