Netanyahu says Israel, US considering ‘alternative options’ to talks with Hamas

Despite insistence from Hamas that it is ready to work towards a deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel and the US are weighing ways to secure the release of captives in Gaza that do not depend on a negotiated agreement with the Palestinian group.

“Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal,” he claimed. “Together with our US allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas’s terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region.”

‘We won’t give up,’ journalist in Gaza says

Al Jazeera has spoken with Noor al-Shana, an independent journalist in central Gaza’s Nuseirat, about the deepening crisis of malnutrition and starvation.

The crisis, she said, now affects everyone – and every aspect of life – in Gaza. “I have been facing a lot of struggles to find food,” even one meal per day, said al-Shana, who has four relatives who were killed at GHF-run aid sites while seeking food.

“It’s not easy to continue in this war,” she said. “But we won’t give up for people in Gaza, for our right to live in dignity, to live like people around the world.”

Palestinian factions reject Witkoff statement, call Hamas response ‘positive’

A coalition of Palestinian armed groups and political-military factions that are fighting against Israel in Gaza and the occupied West Bank says the Hamas response to Israel during the ceasefire talks came after multilateral consultations with the aim of reaching a deal.

“We condemn the statement made by Steve Witkoff, the American partner of the occupation, who held the negotiating resistance delegation responsible for the failure to reach an agreement, despite the great flexibility and high level of responsibility demonstrated” in Qatar, the Palestinian Resistance Factions said in a statement.

It stated its commitment to a deal “that will end the suffering and halt the bloodshed and massacres perpetrated by the enemy against our oppressed Palestinian people”.

Trump accuses Hamas of blocking ceasefire efforts

US President Donald Trump has said Hamas is not interested in a ceasefire and captive release deal, a day after his envoy said US negotiators are pulling out of talks in Qatar.

Speaking at the White House, Trump also said he believes Hamas fighters are going “to be hunted down”.

Hamas responded to the US’s comments yesterday with surprise, saying it had submitted a positive and constructive response to the latest proposal it was offered.

Gaza’s government demands ‘immediate end to famine’ imposed by Israel

Gaza’s Government Media Office has demanded an immediate end to the famine, the opening of all crossings, and the entry of baby formula as part of 500 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks daily to stave off the “disaster” in Gaza.

“We demand the formation of an international commission to investigate the systematic starvation crime,” it said in a statement, also calling for the arrest of Israeli “war criminals”, including soldiers vacationing in or travelling to countries around the world.

“We hold the Israeli occupation, the US administration, and countries involved in genocide, such as Britain, Germany, and France, as well as the international community, fully responsible for this historic crime.”

The office confirmed the death toll from famine and malnutrition in Gaza has risen to 122, including 83 children.

Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) rejected the notion that there was famine in Gaza, but said the humanitarian aid situation “continues to be difficult and challenging”.

Armed wing of Hamas reports attack on Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza

The armed wing of Hamas, Qassam Brigades, says its fighters have targeted a Nimr armoured personnel carrier with Israeli soldiers in the southern Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks after being subjected to air attacks, shootings and bombardments by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while waiting for food to be distributed or while making their way to distribution sites.

On Friday the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted unnamed Israeli soldiers as saying they had been told to fire at crowds near food distribution sites to keep them away from Israeli military positions. The soldiers said they had concerns about using unnecessary lethal force against people who appeared to pose no threat.
Food has become extremely scarce in Gaza since a tight blockade on all supplies was imposed by Israel throughout March and April, threatening many of the 2.3 million people who live there with famine.

Since the blockade was partly lifted last month, the UN has tried to bring in aid but has faced major obstacles, including rubble-choked roads, Israeli military restrictions, continuing airstrikes and growing anarchy. Hundreds of trucks have been looted by armed gangs and by crowds of desperate Palestinians.

On Thursday, 18 people were killed in an Israeli strike targeting Palestinian police distributing flour in a market in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, medical officials said.