The ongoing Israel–Hamas war witnessed another bloody chapter as at least 57 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across different parts of the Gaza Strip on October 3, 2025. The strikes coincided with critical deliberations within Hamas over former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan, which has been accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but met with hesitation by Palestinian groups.

Escalation of Violence in Gaza

According to health officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, five bodies and multiple injured individuals were received following heavy Israeli bombardments. Hospital staff reported that reaching medical facilities has become increasingly difficult due to Israel’s ongoing ground offensive aimed at encircling and potentially occupying Gaza City.

In southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital confirmed receiving 29 bodies, many of them from strikes near a humanitarian aid distribution corridor, a site that has repeatedly witnessed deadly clashes. Fourteen of the dead were killed in what locals described as a direct strike on civilians waiting for aid.

Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported receiving 16 dead from separate Israeli strikes. The hospital also treated several injured individuals, highlighting how civilian areas continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

Humanitarian Impact and Civilian Deaths

Among those killed was Omar Hayek, a 42-year-old occupational therapist with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who was struck while waiting for a bus in Deir al-Balah. The attack also seriously wounded four others. MSF condemned the strike, calling Hayek a “quiet man of profound kindness and professionalism.” Hayek had fled Gaza City earlier but became the 14th MSF staffer killed since the war began.

This highlights the growing toll on medical and humanitarian workers in Gaza, who are already struggling with shortages of medicine, electricity, and equipment amid one of the worst humanitarian crises the region has faced in decades.

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Trump’s Peace Proposal and Hamas’s Dilemma

The escalation comes as Hamas leaders deliberate over Donald Trump’s peace proposal, which is being brokered with the backing of Netanyahu. The plan requires Hamas to:

• Return all 48 hostages, of whom Israel believes around 20 are still alive.

• Disarm completely and relinquish governance of Gaza.

• Accept international oversight in exchange for Palestinian prisoner releases and the end of Israeli bombardments.

While Israel has welcomed the proposal, Palestinian factions argue that the plan favors Israel and fails to provide a clear path to Palestinian statehood. A Hamas official told The Associated Press that some elements of the plan were “unacceptable,” but did not elaborate.

Qatar and Egypt, long-standing mediators, have also stated that further negotiations are needed to refine the deal. Until Hamas delivers an official response, the plan remains in limbo.

Flotilla Interception and Global Reaction

In a related development, Israel intercepted over 40 vessels in a flotilla carrying symbolic humanitarian aid meant to challenge the 18-year blockade of Gaza. The flotilla included high-profile activists such as Greta Thunberg and European lawmakers.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced that the activists were “safe” but would undergo deportation procedures. This interception has further fueled international criticism of Israel’s blockade, with human rights groups calling it a violation of international law.

Violence in the West Bank

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces reported killing one Palestinian militant and arresting another following a car-ramming and shooting attack at a checkpoint. The incident highlights the spillover of conflict beyond Gaza, with tensions rising across Palestinian territories.

Historical Context and Current Stakes

The current war traces its roots back to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 251 hostages. While several hostages were released in earlier ceasefire deals, dozens remain unaccounted for.

Trump’s proposal, while guaranteeing humanitarian aid and reconstruction, would place 2 million Palestinians under international governance, essentially stripping Hamas of power. For many Palestinians, this appears less like a peace deal and more like a political surrender, sparking internal debates on whether to accept or reject it.

Humanitarian Crisis at Breaking Point

The death toll in Gaza continues to mount, with hospitals reporting severe shortages of medicines, food, and fuel. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of mass starvation, disease outbreaks, and infrastructure collapse if the blockade and bombardments continue.

International bodies including the United Nations have urged immediate de-escalation and a humanitarian truce, but diplomatic efforts have stalled as both sides await Hamas’s official position on the Trump plan.

Outlook

As of now, Hamas remains undecided, weighing its options in consultation with other Palestinian factions. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continue, civilian casualties mount, and international criticism grows louder.

The coming days could be decisive:

• If Hamas rejects Trump’s plan, the war is likely to intensify further, with Israel pressing its military advantage.

• If Hamas accepts, it would mark one of the most significant turning points in the Israel–Palestine conflict in decades, though at the cost of Hamas’s political future.

Until then, the people of Gaza remain trapped between unrelenting violence and a political gamble that may decide the region’s fate.

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