Dr. Paul Ransom, representing the British humanitarian medical organization UK-Med, alongside local healthcare workers, provides treatment at a field hospital in Muwasi near Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
Jehad Alshrafi/AP
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Jehad Alshrafi/AP
The Palestinian death count in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 66,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry as of Sunday. This announcement comes just a day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss potential ways to halt Israel’s military campaign in Gaza City.
Meanwhile, Israeli security forces fatally shot a suspect involved in a vehicular attack near a junction close to Nablus in the West Bank, where a man sustained serious injuries. Hamas has publicly endorsed this assault. The West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, remains under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war, and Palestinians seek these territories for their prospective state.
International pressure on Netanyahu to cease hostilities has intensified. Several Western nations have joined an expanding coalition recognizing Palestinian statehood, despite Israeli opposition. The European Union is contemplating sanctions, and there is a growing movement advocating for cultural and sports boycotts against Israel.
At the United Nations General Assembly last Friday, after many delegates exited the chamber, Netanyahu defiantly declared to global leaders that Israel must “complete the mission” against Hamas, as military operations in Gaza City continue unabated.
President Trump has maintained his support for Israel but has recently exhibited signs of frustration, especially following Israel’s controversial airstrike in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month, which appeared to be an unsuccessful attempt to eliminate Hamas leadership. During the upcoming White House meeting, Trump is anticipated to present a new peace proposal aimed at ending the conflict.
Currently, 48 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with Israeli officials estimating that about 20 are still alive. These individuals were taken during a Hamas-led militant attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the current war. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled, particularly after Israel’s widely condemned strike in Doha.
Trump’s 21-Point Ceasefire Proposal
President Trump has introduced a comprehensive 21-point plan aimed at establishing an immediate ceasefire.
According to three Arab officials familiar with the discussions, the plan calls for the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. These officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, emphasized that the proposal remains tentative and subject to modifications.
Trump has engaged with Arab leaders in New York during the United Nations General Assembly to discuss this initiative.
A Hamas representative confirmed that the group has been briefed on the proposal but has yet to receive a formal offer from mediators based in Egypt and Qatar. Hamas has expressed willingness to “consider any proposals in a positive and responsible manner.”
Previously, Hamas indicated readiness to free all hostages in exchange for an end to hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
US Ambassador to Israel to Visit Cairo for Ceasefire Talks
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, is set to travel to Cairo to engage with Egyptian officials regarding hamas-or-justice-video/” title=”… Issues Stark Warning to Qatar: "Expel … Chiefs or We Will Take Action" (Video)”>ceasefire negotiations and the strained relations between Egypt and Israel.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel described Huckabee’s visit as part of “routine diplomatic consultations” among regional partners, though the exact schedule remains unconfirmed.
Relations between Israel and Egypt-the first Arab nation to normalize ties with Israel-have deteriorated recently due to Israel’s strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha and concerns over potential Palestinian displacement into Egypt. Additionally, Israel has voiced apprehension about Egypt’s military buildup in the Sinai Peninsula, which contravenes the 1979 peace treaty.
Continuous Explosions Shake Gaza
Hospitals in central Gaza reported that at least ten individuals lost their lives after multiple strikes hit residential areas in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported in its daily update that the death toll has reached 66,005, with over 168,000 injured since the conflict began. Among the fatalities, 79 were admitted to hospitals within the last 24 hours.
While the ministry, governed by Hamas, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its statistics, it notes that women and children constitute approximately half of the deceased. These figures are regarded as credible by the United Nations and numerous independent analysts.
Residents described hearing relentless explosions throughout the night, likely caused by the detonation of vehicles and robotic devices used to demolish buildings. “The blasts were continuous,” said Sayed Baker, a local sheltering near Shifa hospital.
The Israeli military has not immediately commented on these specific strikes but stated it targeted 140 Hamas military sites in the past day, including personnel, surveillance equipment, and infrastructure.
Israel’s military campaign has devastated large portions of Gaza, displaced nearly 90% of its population, and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with experts warning that Gaza City is facing famine conditions.
