ISTANBUL
Gaza’s civil defense appealed Friday to international mediators and the global community to urgently broker a “comprehensive and immediate humanitarian truce” to protect Palestinian civilians suffering from relentless Israeli attacks.
“In the heart of Gaza, where death strikes at every moment, I call on all mediators to push for a comprehensive and immediate humanitarian ceasefire, until a permanent agreement is reached,” said civil defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal in a statement.
He warned that civilians must not “pay the price for delayed political agreements,” emphasizing that they are not party to the war.
Basal urged mediators to act swiftly, citing civilians “under the rubble, wounded without medicine, and displaced people without shelter.”
On Thursday, Basal said civil defense teams were being blocked by Israeli forces from reaching bombed homes in eastern Gaza City, despite dozens of people believed to be trapped under the debris, some of them still alive and sending distress signals.
The plea for a truce coincides with reports of renewed ceasefire negotiations. On Thursday, the Palestinian group Hamas said it was consulting with other factions on a proposal presented by mediators and would announce its final decision soon.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper that US President Donald Trump may announce a ceasefire deal next Monday during his Washington meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallan,t for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.