Newborns in Gaza are struggling to survive as hospitals overflow and medical supplies run out amid the Gaza conflict’s third year. Israeli air and ground attacks intensified on the war’s anniversary, deepening the humanitarian crisis and dimming hopes tied to US-led ceasefire talks.
War’s Anniversary Marked by Renewed Bombardment
Israel unleashed heavy air, sea, and ground strikes across Gaza on Tuesday, coinciding with the second anniversary of the Hamas attack that triggered the ongoing war. Residents in Khan Younis and Gaza City described explosions shaking entire neighborhoods through the night.
Despite indirect peace talks underway in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, fighting raged on. The negotiations focus on key issues such as Israel’s military withdrawal and Hamas’s disarmament—two points that have derailed earlier ceasefire efforts.
Trump’s Peace Plan Faces Obstacles
The talks, brokered under former US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, are seen as the most serious attempt yet to halt the Gaza conflict. His proposal calls for an end to hostilities, the release of hostages, and large-scale humanitarian aid into the enclave.
However, progress remains uncertain. Both sides publicly back the plan’s framework but differ on its execution. A Palestinian official involved in the talks said Trump’s 72-hour deadline for returning hostages “is unrealistic,” as many are feared dead or missing under rubble.
Read: Gaza War Still Not Over, Hostage Remains Top Priority
Rockets and Resistance
As strikes intensified, militants in Gaza launched rockets into southern Israel, setting off air raid sirens in nearby communities. The Israeli army said its troops continued ground operations against armed groups inside the enclave.
On the same day, a coalition of Palestinian factions—including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others—issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to armed resistance. They declared that “no one has the right to disarm the Palestinian people,” calling weapons “a sacred trust passed through generations.”
Israeli and Palestinian Grief
In Israel, families gathered at memorial sites and Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to mark the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack. That assault killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken captive.
“It’s like an open wound,” said Hilda Weisthal, 43, whose cousin remains among the hostages. “Two years, and they’re still not home. I just want this war to end.”
Across the border in Gaza, the pain mirrors that grief. “For two years we’ve lived with fear and destruction,” said Mohammed Dib, 49. “I pray these talks bring peace and an end to this nightmare.”
Mounting Isolation for Israel
Israel continues its campaign to dismantle Hamas and weaken other Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Israeli operations have also targeted Iranian commanders and nuclear facilities in recent months, supported by US military coordination.
But the offensive has come at a heavy cost. Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 67,000 Palestinians killed and much of the territory reduced to rubble. The growing civilian death toll has left Israel increasingly isolated diplomatically.
Several Western nations have formally recognized a Palestinian state, while global protests demanding an end to the Gaza conflict have intensified.
Trump Pushes for a Breakthrough
Trump, seeking a major foreign policy victory, has invested political capital in securing a deal. US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are representing Washington at the talks.
The Israeli delegation includes Mossad and Shin Bet officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s adviser Ophir Falk, and hostages coordinator Gal Hirsch. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer may join later, depending on progress.
Yet, even if a ceasefire is reached, uncertainty looms over Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction. Trump and Netanyahu have both rejected any postwar role for Hamas.
Hospitals on the Brink
The humanitarian situation worsens daily. A UNICEF spokesperson, James Elder, described harrowing conditions at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, where premature babies are forced to share oxygen masks and beds.
“The hallways are lined with mothers and newborns,” Elder said. “Babies born too early, too small, are struggling to breathe. Equipment sits idle in northern hospitals that are now closed or destroyed.”
Israel has denied repeated requests to transfer incubators and medical equipment from an evacuated hospital in northern Gaza, citing security risks.
According to the World Health Organization, about 20 percent of Gaza’s newborns are now premature or underweight due to malnutrition and the stress endured by pregnant women.
Two Years of Suffering
Two years into the Gaza conflict, the toll continues to climb—tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, and critical infrastructure destroyed. Families live in overcrowded shelters, disease spreads rapidly, and clean water is scarce.
Despite exhaustion and despair, many still cling to hope that negotiations will bring relief. “We’ve lost everything,” said a displaced teacher in Rafah. “But peace is the only thing left to hope for.”
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