An Israeli strike hit a car in Gaza City on Monday evening, killing two men, according to Shifa Hospital, where the casualties were taken. This latest attack follows a weekend of Israeli assaults that left at least 17 people dead, including children, as reported by hospitals in Gaza. The Israeli military stated that its weekend strikes targeted militants and confirmed Monday’s strike, indicating more information would be released later.
Collective Punishment in Gaza
The ongoing military actions unfold amidst a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied Gaza Strip. Soaring temperatures this summer have transformed the makeshift tents, sheltering hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians, into suffocating ovens. These shelters, constructed from plastic sheets, trap intense heat during the day and offer minimal ventilation, forcing countless families to spend hours outside in the scorching conditions.
Humanitarian agencies warn of severe health risks for residents of these overcrowded camps. Limited access to clean water, electricity, and sanitation leaves them highly susceptible to dehydration, heat-related illnesses, and the rapid spread of skin infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses. Aida Abu Hadeesha, a woman displaced from the town of Rafah near the border with Egypt, described the dire situation. “There is no breeze, nothing. Our kids are suffering,” she testified, highlighting the unbearable daily reality under occupation.
Diplomatic Pressure and Disarmament
Amidst these devastating conditions, Nikolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza on the Board of Peace, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Mladenov, representing an international body established by the U.S., pressed Netanyahu to halt military attacks on the territory. Their discussions also included the demand to decommission all weapons in the enclave. This meeting comes days after the U.S. and Hamas reached a deal to disarm the militant group, a potential step toward ending the war in Gaza, even as Israeli military operations continue.
US Threats and Iran Talks
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he decided to hold off on ordering American forces to carry out new strikes against Iran. He attributed this decision to the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Trump revealed that a plan had been in place for U.S. forces to execute “the biggest attack since World War II.” He chose to give diplomacy more time after receiving requests from key Gulf leaders and unnamed Iranian officials.
On Monday, Trump stated that the two sides are resuming talks to wind down the war. He characterized these negotiations as the “last chance” for Iran to forge a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address his concerns about its nuclear program. “Whether Iran wants to admit it or not, we are, in fact, talking,” Trump asserted. He later wrote on Truth Social, “Iranian Leadership is unbelievably duplicitous!”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry, however, contradicted Trump’s claims, stating the country was not currently holding negotiations with the United States. Esmail Baghaei, an agency spokesperson, clarified on Monday that ongoing talks were with Oman. These discussions, he added, focused solely on establishing a temporary route for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Trade data and analytics platform Kpler reported that nine vessels transited through the strait Sunday, with most utilizing an Iranian-controlled route.