Thursday marks five months since fighting broke out between the Israeli military and Islamic group Hamas, resulting in more than 30,000 civilian deaths.

The clashes began on October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

While the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip deteriorates, ceasefire negotiations between the two sides are locked in stalemate.

It remains to be seen whether a halt in fighting can be achieved before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around next Sunday.

Negotiations are taking place through mediators.
Delegates from Hamas arrived in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday for talks with representatives of Qatar, Egypt and the US.

Israel and the mediators reportedly had agreed on a proposal for a six-week pause in fighting in exchange for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.

But Hamas has been sticking to its demand for a complete ceasefire, leaving an impasse between the two warring parties.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Gaza on Wednesday said Israeli attacks killed 86 people in the past 24 hours. The announcement brings to 30,717 the number of those who have died in the conflict.

Aid missions are denied access in particular to northern Gaza due to fighting and interference by Israeli forces.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, on Tuesday said that food shortages in northern Gaza have become so serious that some residents are resorting to giving animal feed to their children.

Palestinian staff at NHK's Gaza City office on Wednesday unveiled footage taken in northern Gaza, showing residents jumping onto a running truck and stealing humanitarian aid.

Against this backdrop, the European Union on Wednesday announced that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Cyprus this week to discuss implementation of a maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza.

Her spokesperson expressed hopes that such a corridor will be opened very soon.