Israel Denies Gaza Safe Zone Strike Amid Stalled Ceasefire Talks

Gaza — Ekhbary News Agency

The Israeli military has refuted claims of striking a designated "safe zone" in Gaza on Thursday, following reports from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA that the Al-Mawasi region, filled with displaced civilians, endured "land, sea and air strikes." This denial comes as the eight-month conflict continues its devastating course, with a US-backed ceasefire proposal struggling to gain public commitment from either Israel or Hamas. For what it's worth, the IDF explicitly told CNN that "Contrary to the reports from the last few hours, the IDF did not strike in the Humanitarian Area in Al-Mawasi."

Ceasefire Plan Stalls Amid Mutual Accusations

Efforts to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal appear stalled, despite intense pressure from American officials, including President Joe Biden. Hamas, in a statement released Wednesday, asserted its "necessary positivity in all stages of negotiations" towards a "comprehensive and acceptable agreement based on the just demands of our people." These demands include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced persons, reconstruction, and a serious prisoner exchange deal. However, Hamas also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for what it termed a continued commitment to "genocide war," contradicting the spirit of Biden's proposal.

Red Sea Shipping Under Attack

Separately, maritime security in the Red Sea faced renewed threats. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed a Houthi surface sea drone struck the M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned merchant vessel, on Tuesday. The impact caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room. CENTCOM further reported that US forces destroyed three Houthi anti-ship cruise missile launchers in Yemen and one Houthi drone launched into the Red Sea within the last 24 hours, underscoring the persistent danger to international shipping lanes.