On the 729th day of Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—and despite ongoing ceasefire discussions—civil defense teams described the situation in Gaza City as “a merciless, frenzied bombardment.”
Two infants, Wasim Hammouda (1 year and 3 months) and Sanad al-Sharif (2 months), died at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, after suffering complications caused by Israeli-imposed starvation and malnutrition.
These fatalities are directly linked to the ongoing Israeli blockade, which has sealed all border crossings since March 2, preventing the entry of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Despite limited aid allowed in roughly a month ago, supplies remain far below the minimum required to address widespread hunger.
Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks pounded Gaza throughout Friday and into early Saturday, killing and injuring civilians across multiple neighborhoods.
At least 21 Palestinians were reported killed in the Israeli bombing of Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, with more than 15 others still trapped under the rubble.
Additionally, five bodies were recovered from the ruins of a residential home in western Gaza following an overnight airstrike, according to staff at Shifa Hospital.
Emergency responders reported several injuries in the Al-Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City, after an Israeli drone opened fire on civilians.
In another strike on Al-Tuffah, northeast of the city, four Palestinians were killed and others wounded, according to the Baptist Hospital.
Medical sources also reported that one Palestinian was killed and several others wounded in an Israeli bombing targeting a home on Al-Yarmouk Street in Gaza City, which remains under strict Israeli military siege and constant bombardment.
In southern Gaza, the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis confirmed the deaths of two children and multiple injuries after an Israeli drone targeted a tent sheltering displaced families in the Al-Mawasi area.
The Gaza Municipality issued an urgent appeal to the international community, warning that nearly half a million residents remain trapped in Gaza City under siege and bombardment. Officials called for immediate humanitarian intervention to provide food, water, medicine, and protection. UN estimates indicate that approximately half of Gaza City’s population has fled southward in recent days amid escalating attacks and deteriorating conditions.
Meanwhile, Hamas has signaled its readiness to engage in negotiations through mediators to discuss all aspects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire and post-war framework.
In a statement, the group agreed to release all captives—both living and deceased—in exchange for a full cessation of bombing and complete Israeli withdrawal. It also reiterated its willingness to transfer administrative control of Gaza to a nationally agreed-upon body of independent Palestinian figures, backed by Arab and Islamic consensus. However, no formal document has been delivered, and Israeli forces continue their offensive operations.
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Although the United States has put forward a 20-point proposal outlining a phased ceasefire and gradual military withdrawal, no binding agreement has been reached. The framework remains conditional and unenforced, hinging on mutual approval that has yet to materialize.
US President Donald Trump has ordered Israel to halt its bombing of Gaza, saying Hamas is ready for peace after agreeing to parts of his proposal, including releasing all Israeli captives. Trump thanked Arab states for their help in trying to end the war. pic.twitter.com/qslWiGPkOF
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 4, 2025
President Trump has publicly urged Israel to halt its bombing, calling Hamas’s response “unprecedented,” but Israeli bombardment continues. Critically, there are no enforceable safeguards—no legal guarantees, no monitoring mechanisms, and no consequences for violations.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi convened a high-level military assessment meeting in response to recent developments. According to an Israeli army statement, Halevi ordered increased readiness to implement the first phase of Trump’s plan, under political direction.
Palestinian Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said that massacres in Gaza have severely intensified as Israeli occupation warplanes continue to bombard Gaza City, bombing homes on top of their residents.
He described families being wiped from the civil registry, with… pic.twitter.com/MslbGZZpkf
— Translating Falasteen (Palestine) (@translatingpal) October 3, 2025
The meeting emphasized the protection of Israeli forces as a top priority and confirmed that all military resources would be concentrated in the southern command to secure troop operations.
Despite diplomatic signals, emergency crews report worsening conditions, with families trapped under rubble and many areas still unreachable due to shelling.
Since Israel violated the ceasefire agreement on March 18, 2025, at least 13,420 Palestinians have been killed and 57,124 others wounded. These figures include large numbers of women and children, many of whom were targeted in shelters, homes, and aid lines.
As of Saturday, October 4, 2025, at least 457 Palestinians have died from starvation and malnutrition, including 152 children, since October 7, 2023. The blockade remains in full effect, and aid remains critically insufficient.
The cumulative toll of Israel’s genocidal campaign on Gaza since October 7, 2023, has now exceeded 66,288 Palestinians killed and more than 169,165 wounded. Thousands remain trapped under the rubble, with emergency crews unable to reach them due to continued bombardment and fuel shortages.
