Five Israeli Soldiers Killed Amid Gaza Fighting as Ceasefire Talks Stall

Five Israeli soldiers lost their lives during combat operations in the northern Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued by Israel’s military on Tuesday. Two of the soldiers were confirmed killed in action, while three others died and two sustained severe injuries in the same incident. The wounded personnel were promptly evacuated to a medical facility, and their families have been informed. The fatalities come amid renewed indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, held in Qatar’s capital Doha, where delegates from both sides are engaged in separate-room discussions. Despite ongoing efforts, a Palestinian official familiar with the process reported no breakthrough from Monday’s round of talks. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to join the discussions this week to help advance a potential ceasefire. The U.S.-backed proposal includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies captured in the October 2023 attack, in exchange for Palestinian detainees. Hamas is reportedly seeking guarantees of Israeli withdrawal, non-resumption of hostilities during talks, and the reinstatement of the UN-led humanitarian aid system.