66,000 Palestinians Dead in Israel-Hamas Conflict: Trump to Present Proposal for Immediate Ceasefire Amid International Pressure

The Palestinian death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict now stands at 66,005, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. This announcement comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, set for Monday at the White House, regarding the ongoing military operations in Gaza City.

In a car-ramming incident near Nablus in the West Bank, an alleged attacker was fatally shot by Israeli security forces. This event was lauded by Hamas, contributing to escalating violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Mideast war and claimed by Palestinians for their future state.

International pressure mounts on Netanyahu to end the conflict, as key Western allies join a growing list of nations recognizing a Palestinian state over Israeli objections. The European Union is considering imposing sanctions, while calls for a sports and cultural boycott against Israel continue to gain momentum.

At the U.N. General Assembly last Friday, Netanyahu defiantly told world leaders that Israel “must complete its mission” against Hamas in Gaza, despite widespread criticism of its ongoing offensive.

Trump has thus far supported Israel’s stance, but recent signs of impatience have emerged, particularly following Israel’s bombing of Qatar earlier this month, which some believe was an unsuccessful attempt to target Hamas leadership. During their meeting at the White House, Trump is expected to present a new proposal aimed at ending the war.

Forty-eight hostages remain captive in Gaza since an attack by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, marking the start of the war. Ceasefire negotiations have been stalled since Israel’s controversial strike in Doha, Qatar.

Trump has proposed a 21-point plan for an immediate ceasefire, which reportedly includes the release of all hostages within 48 hours and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave. However, the proposal remains tentative and is subject to change.

Hamas officials have been briefed on this proposal but have yet to receive an official offer from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Hamas has expressed a willingness to consider any proposals positively and responsibly.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is set to meet with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire as well as the strained relationship between Israel and Egypt. The exact timing of this meeting has not been confirmed.

Tensions between Israel and Egypt—the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel—have deteriorated over recent months due to Israel’s attack on Hamas leadership in Doha and concerns about potential Palestinian refugees flooding into Egypt. Israel also expressed concern over an Egyptian military buildup in the Sinai peninsula, which violates the 1979 peace treaty between the two nations.

Local hospitals in central Gaza reported at least ten civilian casualties following strikes on homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Gaza Health Ministry’s daily report indicates a total of 66,005 deaths and 168,162 injuries since the conflict began. Among the fatalities were 79 individuals admitted to hospitals within the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-led administration, does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its toll, but has stated that women and children account for approximately half of the deceased. The ministry’s statistics are generally considered a reliable estimate by the United Nations and many independent experts.

Residents reported hearing persistent explosions throughout the night across Gaza City, believed to be the result of building demolitions carried out through the detonation of explosive-laden vehicles and robots. “The explosions were incessant,” said Sayed Baker, a Palestinian resident sheltering near Shifa Hospital.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions regarding the strikes, but claimed it targeted 140 Hamas military sites over the previous 24 hours, including militants, observation equipment, and infrastructure.

Israel’s offensive has resulted in extensive damage across Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of the population and causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts suggesting that Gaza City is currently experiencing famine.