As world leaders seek ceasefire, Israeli attacks kill 34 people in Gaza

Deadly Israeli air attacks have intensified in Gaza City and ground forces have advanced in the south of the city, killing at least 34 Palestinians across the enclave.

Gaza’s Health Ministry has warned that patients are facing “certain death” as hospitals in the besieged territory may have to shutter vital departments within “a few days” due to fuel shortages.

Leaders of six countries, including France, have moved to recognise Palestinian statehood at a high-level summit before the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 65,382 people and wounded 166,985 since October 2023. Thousands more are believed to be buried under the rubble. A total of 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.

President Trump said at the UN General Assembly that the war in Gaza must stop “immediately” but fell short of mentioning how, Sultan Barakat, professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said.

“He knows that the main reason for [the war] sustaining itself at the moment is the fact that he is supporting it,” Barakat told Al Jazeera.

The analyst said Israeli officials are clearly unwilling to halt the conflict and will “do their very best to try and push as many Palestinians as they can out of Gaza”.

Commenting on the possibility of Qatar resuming its role as a mediator after Israel struck a Hamas delegation in Doha, Barakat said, “There has been hesitation to go back to business as usual without a new understanding as to what mediation entails.”

“Without further clarification of that framework is, it will be very difficult for mediation [efforts] to continue,” he added.