Fatah, Hamas discuss Gaza future amid rising Middle East tensions

Representatives from Fatah and Hamas have begun talks in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip, Egypt's State Information Service said on Saturday, citing an Egyptian security official.

The committee will be established by presidential decree from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the official said, adding that it will include independent figures.

According to the security official, the Egyptian-sponsored meeting aims to achieve Palestinian unity and prevent the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip.

He said Hamas insists on addressing all issues related to the conflict comprehensively, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Hamas fears that if these issues are handled separately, Israel may resume its attacks on Gaza after securing the release of Israeli hostages.

The official affirmed that Egypt is making intensive efforts to resume negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, which have been suspended since July, adding that Cairo continues to work with Palestinian and Israeli parties to secure a truce and facilitate increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a Hamas attack across the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023.

On Saturday, at least 42 Palestinians were killed and over 150 injured in Israeli air and artillery bombardment on Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.

The Gaza government media office condemned the strikes, describing them as the "deliberate targeting of civilians, including children and women," and called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt these actions against Gaza's civilians.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 43,314, according to a statement from Gaza-based health authorities on Saturday.

"The situation unfolding in north Gaza is apocalyptic," said a joint statement by UN agency chiefs. They described the area as "under siege" and "denied basic aid and life-saving supplies."

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it had again launched rockets at Israel's Glilot intelligence base near Tel Aviv on Saturday and also claimed rocket fire against "military industries" in the Haifa area. On the same day, Israeli strikes against Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold killed one person and injured 15.

The tit-for-tat fire exchange between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon.

Referring to recent Israeli strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that U.S. support for these attacks exposed "the hypocrisy of American human rights claims."

Khamenei also warned that both Israel and the U.S. would be punished for their military action against Iran and "resistance groups" in West Asia. "The enemies will undoubtedly receive a teeth-breaking response."

(With input from agencies)