US and Arab partners differ on the need for a cease-fire amid increasing civilian casualties from Israeli airstrikes.

The United States and Arab partners held contrasting views on the necessity of an instant cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, while Israeli military operations resulted in the loss of innocent lives at a U.N. shelter and a hospital. Israel asserted that the Hamas rulers of the besieged enclave were facing the complete might of its armed forces.

Israel's military has announced that it has surrounded Gaza City, the primary objective of its operation to eliminate Hamas, resulting in the emergence of extensive plumes of smoke. The Health Ministry of Gaza has reported that over 9,400 Palestinians have lost their lives in the region during the ongoing conflict, and this figure is expected to increase as the offensive persists.

Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant expressed concern about the safety of individuals residing in Gaza City, emphasizing the potential life-threatening circumstances they face.

During the overnight hours between Saturday and Sunday, the Maghazi refugee camp located in the central region of Gaza was targeted by airstrikes, resulting in numerous casualties as confirmed by Palestinian health authorities. It is important to note that Maghazi falls within the designated evacuation area where Israeli authorities had previously advised Palestinians to seek shelter.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken convened with Arab foreign ministers in Jordan on Saturday subsequent to his discussions in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the imperative of the release of all hostages held by Hamas before considering a temporary cease-fire.

Ayman Safadi, the Foreign Minister of Jordan, has expressed the desire of Arab nations for an urgent cessation of hostilities. He emphasized that the entire region is being engulfed by animosity, which will have long-lasting consequences for future generations.

Blinken expressed the opinion that a cease-fire would only allow Hamas to remain in power, giving them the opportunity to reorganize and carry out similar actions as on Oct. 7. He emphasized the significance of humanitarian pauses in safeguarding civilians, facilitating the delivery of aid, and ensuring the safe evacuation of foreign citizens, all while allowing Israel to successfully accomplish its objective of defeating Hamas.

While departing from a church in Delaware on Sunday, President Joe Biden indicated that there has been some advancement in persuading Israel to accept a humanitarian ceasefire. When asked by journalists if there has been any progress on the matter, he simply replied with a "Yes," without providing any further details.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan urged Blinken to cease the aggression and refrain from proposing unfeasible ideas, as he addressed reporters in Beirut. In a separate speech, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for the Hamas military wing, revealed that their fighters had successfully demolished 24 Israeli vehicles and caused casualties over the course of the previous two days.

Egyptian authorities, in collaboration with Qatar, have suggested the implementation of daily humanitarian breaks lasting from six to twelve hours to facilitate the delivery of aid and the evacuation of casualties. Additionally, they have requested the release of elderly and female prisoners by Israel in exchange for hostages, a proposal that Israel appears hesitant to agree to. The officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to provide information to the media regarding the ongoing negotiations.

Israel has consistently requested that the 1.1 million inhabitants of northern Gaza relocate to the southern region, and on Saturday, it provided a three-hour timeframe for residents to comply. Nevertheless, an Associated Press journalist present on the scene observed no individuals adhering to this directive. Salama Maarouf, the head of the government media office in Gaza, attributed the lack of movement to the Israeli military's destruction of the road.

Israel claimed that Hamas took advantage of the opportunity to relocate and launch an assault on its troops. However, Hamas did not immediately respond to this allegation, making it impossible to confirm.

Some Palestinians expressed that their decision to remain was not influenced by their apprehension of Israeli bombardment.

Mohamed Abed, who sought refuge with his wife and children at al-Shifa hospital, expressed his lack of trust towards them. He was among the numerous Palestinians who sought safety at medical centers in the northern region.

Numerous residential areas in the northern region of Gaza have been destroyed due to airstrikes. According to U.N. monitors, over 50% of the remaining population, which is approximately 300,000 individuals, have sought refuge in U.N.-operated facilities. However, these shelters have also been targeted and damaged by lethal Israeli attacks. The U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees has reported losing communication with a significant number of individuals in the northern area.

On Saturday, a U.N. school in close proximity to Gaza City was struck by two attacks, resulting in the loss of lives. The strikes claimed the lives of individuals seeking refuge in the schoolyard tents and women who were engaged in the act of baking bread within the premises. The U.N. agency has confirmed these distressing events. Juliette Touma, the agency's spokesperson, stated that the initial reports suggested a death toll of 20 individuals. Additionally, the health ministry in Gaza reported that 15 people lost their lives at the school, while 70 others sustained injuries.

On Saturday, a strike occurred at the gate of al-Nasser Hospital in Gaza City resulting in the death of two individuals, as reported by Medhat Abbas, the health ministry spokesman. Additionally, a strike near the entrance to the emergency ward of al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City caused injuries to at least 21 people, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The Gaza health care attacks have been deemed "unacceptable" by the World Health Organization.

The family residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled leader of Hamas, located in the Shati refugee camp on the northern outskirts of Gaza City, was also struck. This information was reported by the media office in Gaza, which is under the control of Hamas. However, no immediate information regarding the extent of damage or any casualties was provided.

Israel has carried out further bombing in the southern region, claiming that it is targeting Hamas objectives. As a result of an airstrike that occurred on Saturday, a residence in the town of Khan Younis was destroyed, leading to the recovery of three fatalities and six wounded individuals from the debris. A child was among the deceased, as reported by an AP cameraman present at the location.

Raed Mattar, who had escaped from the north, sought refuge in a school located in Khan Younis. He expressed that the noise of explosions persists without any respite.

Approximately 1,115 Palestinian dual nationals and wounded individuals have departed Gaza for Egypt. However, authorities in Gaza refused to permit foreign passport holders to leave on Saturday due to Israel's obstruction of the evacuation of Palestinian patients seeking treatment in Egypt. This information was conveyed by Wael Abu Omar, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Crossings Authority.

According to the United Nations, around 1.5 million people in Gaza, which accounts for 70% of the population, have been displaced from their homes. The availability of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel required for powering hospitals and other facilities is rapidly diminishing.

The war in Gaza and the loss of civilian lives have incited significant protests in various locations including Paris, Washington, London, Pakistan, and others on Saturday. In Rome, a banner proclaimed, "Against apartheid, free Palestinians."

Turkey announced that it would summon its ambassador from Israel for discussions, while Turkish media reported President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that he could no longer engage in dialogue with Netanyahu due to the ongoing bombardment.

Outside Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem, a multitude of Israelis gathered to protest, demanding his resignation and the safe return of approximately 240 hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu has adamantly refused to accept responsibility for the devastating attack in southern Israel on October 7, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 individuals.

Expressing her dismay, Ella Ben Ami, whose parents were among the abducted, questioned the rationale behind sending humanitarian aid to "monsters." She called for a suspension of aid until the hostages are released.

In Tel Aviv, thousands of individuals also participated in a demonstration organized by the families of the hostages.

Air raid sirens were heard on Saturday evening in southern Israel as Hamas launched rockets into Ashkelon. Throughout the conflict, rocket fire has persisted in the area, resulting in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from their homes.

Concerns remain about the possibility of a new front opening along Israel's border with Lebanon. The Israeli military has reported striking militant cells in Lebanon that attempted to attack Israel, as well as an observation post for Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in almost daily exchanges of fire throughout the war. In 2006, they fought a monthlong war that ended in a tense stalemate.

Following a visit to the border, Israel's defense minister, Gallant, stated, "We are not seeking a northern front, but we are prepared for any task." He further mentioned that the Air Force is reserving its strength for the Lebanon front, as per a video statement.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, among the Palestinians killed in Gaza, more than 3,900 are children. However, no specific breakdown of civilians and fighters was provided.

The Israeli military has reported the deaths of four additional soldiers during the Gaza ground operation, bringing the confirmed death toll to 28.