Israel strikes Gaza as talks try to restart peace plans

On Sunday, an Israeli air attack on a Hamas-run police station in Gaza killed five people and hurt at least sixteen more. The strike happened near a crowded tent camp where families displaced by the war were living in Khan Younis. Doctors didn’t say if any of the dead were police officers. The Israeli army stayed quiet about the attack, which adds to months of rising violence against police buildings and officers in Gaza. Fighting has been on hold since October following a temporary ceasefire, but no deal has been made to move forward with a U. S. -backed plan. That plan calls for Israeli soldiers to pull back, Hamas to give up its weapons, and Gaza to be rebuilt. Right now, Israeli forces still hold over half of Gaza’s land, forcing millions of people into a narrow coastal strip. Most live in tents or damaged buildings under Hamas control. Gaza’s police, about 10, 000 strong, have become a major problem in the peace talks. Hamas wants them included in a new security force, but Israel refuses to allow any Hamas-linked personnel to serve.Egypt is now hosting new talks with Hamas and other Palestinian groups to try and break the deadlock. The meetings are expected to last a few days. Both sides have accused each other of breaking the truce before it even began. Since the temporary calm started, Israeli strikes have killed over 950 Palestinians, while Palestinian attacks have left four Israeli soldiers dead. The peace plan was first introduced last year under a U. N. -backed agreement to phase out fighting. But key issues like Hamas disarming, Israeli withdrawal, and who runs Gaza were pushed to later stages. Even now, mediators are still pushing for progress on disarmament. Hamas says ending Israeli attacks is the only way talks can move forward. A Hamas spokesperson called for fairness, saying the peace process shouldn’t favor one side over the other. The war has left Gaza in ruins. Health officials say nearly 73, 000 people have been killed since October 2023, most of them civilians. Israel began its military campaign after Hamas-led militants crossed the border, killing 1, 200 people and taking 251 hostages.