As Gaza reels from mounting casualties, collapsing health services, and growing international condemnation, US President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial peace plan aimed at ending the war—sparking deep divisions among Israeli leaders, rejection from Palestinian factions, and mixed global reactions. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Tuesday that 42 people were killed and 190 wounded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of casualties since October 7, 2023, to 66,097 dead and 168,536 injured. Since Israel broke a ceasefire agreement on March 18, 2025, 13,229 Palestinians have been killed and 56,495 wounded. Medical teams are facing what the ministry described as "catastrophic challenges" due to extreme shortages of medicines and essential supplies. Health services are on the brink of collapse without immediate international assistance, it warned. UNICEF also raised alarms, reporting that one in five children in Gaza is now born prematurely or underweight, and called for urgent life-saving aid for families and children. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, diplomatic efforts to end the war have intensified. Qatari and Egyptian mediators, backed by Turkey, delivered a revised US peace proposal to a Hamas delegation earlier this week. US President Donald Trump formally unveiled the plan during a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing it as the closest the parties have come to ending the conflict. Trump called on Hamas to accept the proposal, while Netanyahu hailed it as a "historic opportunity" that aligns with Israel's war objectives. Trump emphasized that implementation would require agreement from all sides. However, the plan has provoked sharp divisions within Israel. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned it as a "diplomatic failure" that ignores "the lessons of October 7." Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, demanded a total shutdown of Gaza's border crossings and a halt to essential services if Hamas rejects the offer. Netanyahu later clarified that he had "not agreed to a Palestinian state," insisting such a provision was "not part of the agreement." Palestinian factions swiftly rejected the proposal. Ayman al-Shashniya, secretary-general of the Resistance Committees, denounced it as a "full endorsement of Israel's colonial project," accusing the plan of seeking to "end armed resistance, deepen division between Gaza and the West Bank, and accomplish through diplomacy what Israel and the US could not achieve militarily." Media reports indicate that key elements of the plan were altered following pressure from Netanyahu and his adviser Ron Dermer, particularly regarding the timeline and conditions for Israeli withdrawal. These changes reportedly frustrated officials in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, who had engaged with earlier drafts. Despite the controversy, the plan has garnered significant international support. The European Union called it "the best chance for lasting peace," with Germany, Australia, Sweden, Spain, and Lebanon also expressing approval. The Kremlin welcomed the initiative, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan praised US "efforts to stop the bloodshed." Meanwhile, Israel faces mounting international economic pressure. Sportswear brand Reebok announced it was terminating its sponsorship of the Israeli national football team and would remove its logo from team jerseys. This follows a broader wave of canceled trade and arms deals, along with a steep decline in exports and foreign investment. Tensions at sea are also escalating. Israel's public broadcaster reported that more than 50 vessels from the "Freedom Flotilla" had entered its interception zone en route to Gaza. Israeli authorities vowed to prevent the ships from reaching the enclave "under any circumstances," saying the navy is prepared to intercept, seize, or even sink vessels if necessary. Despite the uncertainty, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said that Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediation efforts are ongoing and coordinated. He reiterated Qatar's commitment to "ending the war, halting starvation, and supporting reconstruction," noting that Hamas had agreed to study the US proposal, though it remains "too early" for an official response.
