Gaza Conflict Escalates Amidst International Pressure

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded that Hamas release the hostages it is holding, disarm, and relinquish power to help end the ongoing war with Israel in Gaza. Abbas made the demands at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council, stating that releasing the hostages would "shut down" Israel's "excuses" to continue the war. The call marks the first time Abbas has demanded Hamas transfer its authority to the PA since the start of the war, and it is unclear whether Hamas will comply.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called Hamas "sons of dogs" in a speech, demanding they release hostages, disarm, and hand over control of Gaza to end the war with Israel. Abbas criticized Hamas for giving Israel "excuses" to continue its attacks on Gaza. Hamas rejected Abbas's comments, calling them "derogatory language" towards "a significant proportion... of his own people". The remarks come amid a longstanding rift between Hamas and the PA, with the two having been divided since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with at least 51,300 people killed in Gaza since October 2023, and the UN warning of severe shortages of medicines and rising malnutrition.

An Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City killed at least 10 people and injured dozens, as mediators worked on a proposal to end the war with Hamas that would include a five-to-seven-year truce and the release of hostages. The strike set several tents ablaze, burning people alive, and came as France, Germany, and Britain criticized Israel's seven-week blockade on Gaza, calling it "intolerable." Egypt and Qatar are developing a peace proposal that includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has said it will only release hostages in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire. The conflict has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants.

Leaked documents reviewed by Israeli newspaper Haaretz show that Israeli troops shot at Gaza aid workers from "point-blank range" during an attack on March 23 that killed 15 aid workers, contradicting the IDF's official narrative. The documents also reveal that IDF investigators were "not convinced" by a deputy commander's claim that he misidentified aid vehicles as Hamas, and that soldiers continued shooting even after it was clear there was no return fire. Additionally, the documents show that soldiers were ordered to crush the medics' vehicles to prevent drawing attention to the IDF's presence in the area.