Netanyahu's threats to continue fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, specifically in Rafah, have been identified as the main obstacle to reaching an agreement.

Hamas has expressed a positive attitude towards the proposed 40-day ceasefire and prisoner exchange, but Israel's insistence on crushing Hamas fighters in Rafah has been a major sticking point.

Foreign mediators are waiting for Hamas' response to the proposal.

A hawkish prime minister plans to send ground troops into Rafah, disregarding concerns from UN agencies and allies, including the US, over the safety of the city's 1.2 million civilians.

The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed deep concern, warning that a military operation could lead to a "bloodbath" and that the health system would be unable to handle the surge in casualties.

Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators are brokering negotiations, and the prime minister's insistence on attacking Rafah is seen as an attempt to thwart an agreement.

Overnight, Israeli air strikes killed more people in Rafah, according to Palestinian medics and the civil defense agency.

A resident of Gaza, Sanaa Zoorob, reported the deaths of her sister and seven family members, including two children found in pieces with their mother.

The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in over 1,170 deaths, mostly civilians.

Hamas took over 250 hostages, and Israel estimates that 128 remain in Gaza, with 35 reportedly dead.

The Israeli retaliation has resulted in at least 34,622 deaths in Gaza, primarily women and children, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Protests in support of Palestinians have continued worldwide, with clashes at US campuses and arrests.

The White House urged order.

Demonstrations also occurred in Britain, France, Mexico, and Australia.

Turkey suspended trade with Israel, worth $9.5 billion annually, to pressure Israel into a ceasefire and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Yemen's Houthi rebels threatened to attack Israeli shipping in the Mediterranean.

The siege of Gaza by Israel has brought many of its 2.4 million residents to the edge of famine.

The US has pressured Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, resulting in the reopening of the Erez crossing.

While food availability has slightly improved, the World Health Organization warns that the threat of famine has not disappeared.

Five Israeli human rights groups have taken Israel to court over restrictions on aid to Gaza, arguing that the government's claims of meeting obligations under international law are incomprehensible, as the evidence of shortages within Gaza indicates otherwise.

World Central Kitchen, a US-based charity, resumed operations in Gaza this week after suspending them following the death of seven staff members in Israeli drone strikes.

The group's kitchen manager, Zakria Yahya Abukuwaik, stated that many people were left hungry after the kitchen closed.

The charity had been working on a new maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza to compensate for decreasing land deliveries from Israel.

However, the project faced a setback when the US military announced that high winds had forced them to relocate the construction of a temporary aid pier from Gaza to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The pier and military vessels involved in its construction have been moved to Ashdod, where assembly will continue and be completed before being transferred back to Gaza.

Governments from the Arab and Western regions have dropped aid into northern Gaza via airdrops.

Unfortunately, one person was killed and several others were injured when they were struck by falling pallets during the aid distribution.