Gaza and Beirut, November 16, 2024: As the conflict between Hamas and Israel intensifies, a senior Hamas official stated on Friday that the group is “ready for a ceasefire” in Gaza, calling on US President-elect Donald Trump to exert pressure on Israel to end its military offensive.

The plea for an immediate ceasefire comes as violence continues to devastate Gaza, while Israel also escalates its airstrikes on Lebanon, particularly targeting Hezbollah strongholds.

Bassem Naim, a key member of Hamas’s political bureau, made the announcement from Doha, where Qatar has played a significant role in mediating ceasefire talks throughout the conflict.

Naim emphasized that Hamas is willing to accept a ceasefire proposal, provided that it is respected by Israel. He called for external intervention, urging the incoming US administration to apply diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt its military actions.

“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected by Israel,” Naim told AFP. “We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression.”

The call for a ceasefire comes almost a week after Qatar suspended its role as a mediator in indirect talks between Hamas and Israel.

Doha’s foreign ministry announced that it would only resume its mediation efforts once both parties demonstrated genuine willingness to negotiate in good faith.

Qatar had previously been instrumental in facilitating talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The war between Israel and Hamas has entered its second year, with no signs of de-escalation. Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties, most of them civilians.

In retaliation, Israel has relentlessly bombarded Gaza, resulting in significant loss of life on both sides.

According to Hamas-run health ministry figures, more than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began, most of them civilians. The UN has not yet verified these figures but has called for an immediate halt to the violence.

As the bombardment continues, the situation in Gaza remains dire. Residents of Deir El Balah, a city in central Gaza, were forced to dig through the rubble of their homes after overnight airstrikes left them in ruins.

Mohamed Baraka, a local resident, shared the terrifying moment when his home was hit by an airstrike. “I woke up to the bombing at 2:30 am and was surprised by the rubble and glass falling on me and my children,” said Baraka.

“The strike resulted in three martyrs and 15 injuries. Put an end to this war… because innocent people are losing defenseless children who have nothing to do with this.”

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, the hostage situation continues to generate international concern. Militants allied with Hamas, including the group Islamic Jihad, have released several hostage videos, including that of Israeli-Russian citizen Sasha Trupanov, who was abducted during Hamas’s attack on Israel in October.

The fate of Trupanov, along with 96 other hostages, remains uncertain. Trupanov’s family, along with Russian officials, have called for his immediate release.

The hostage crisis has grown even more complex after Qatar’s suspension of its mediation efforts, further hindering hopes for a swift resolution. The withdrawal of Qatar from the talks leaves a significant void in the mediation process, which has already faced repeated deadlocks.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has also intensified, following months of sporadic cross-border clashes.

In southern Beirut, Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled areas resulted in the collapse of a building in the Ghobeiri neighborhood, sending a cloud of smoke and dust into the sky. Two missile strikes, reportedly fired by Israeli drones, preceded the bombing.

The Israeli military had previously issued evacuation warnings to civilians in the southern suburbs of Beirut, urging them to leave areas near Hezbollah facilities.

The military’s warnings have done little to halt the fighting, with civilians caught in the crossfire as Israel continues to strike targets linked to Hezbollah.

Israeli airstrikes have been relentless in recent weeks, with more than 120 targets in Lebanon hit in a single day. The targets included weapons storage facilities, rocket launchers, and command centers.

The ongoing military action has resulted in over 3,380 deaths in Lebanon since the fighting began in 2023, according to Lebanese health officials. The majority of those killed have been civilians, including many first responders.

One of the most heartbreaking stories from Lebanon emerged on Thursday when an Israeli airstrike targeted a civil defense facility in the village of Douris, located in the Bekaa Valley.

The strike killed at least 14 civil defense workers, including Suzanne Karkaba’s father, Ali, a rescue worker who had spent years saving the injured and recovering the dead.

“I had to identify him by his fingers,” Karkaba told AFP, tears streaming down her face. “Now it’s my turn to pick up the pieces of my dad.”

Karkaba and other rescue workers spent the morning pulling body parts from the rubble of the center. Despite the personal tragedy, Karkaba vowed to continue working to help others who are trapped in the ongoing violence.

In response to the airstrikes, Lebanon’s health ministry has condemned Israel’s attacks on civilian and rescue worker infrastructure, calling for the international community to intervene and end the violations.

The attacks on first responder facilities are a major concern, as rescuers are vital in saving lives during the conflict. The violence between Israel and Hezbollah has created widespread destruction across southern Lebanon.

Residents of southern Beirut, the heart of Hezbollah’s stronghold, have fled their homes in droves, but many have returned to check on their properties and businesses amid the ongoing airstrikes. As the death toll rises, the already strained infrastructure of Lebanon faces further devastation.

Israel’s military strategy in Lebanon has become more aggressive in recent months, particularly after the increase in cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Israeli ground troops were deployed to southern Lebanon in early October, leading to intensified clashes that have resulted in significant casualties.

As the conflict shows no signs of abating, the situation remains dire for both Gaza and Lebanon. International calls for a ceasefire have grown louder, but the ongoing violence continues to overshadow peace efforts.

In Gaza, residents continue to suffer under relentless bombardment, while in Lebanon, civilians are trapped between the warring factions.

The prospect of a ceasefire, while still on the table, seems increasingly distant as both sides prepare for more bloodshed.

With the region in turmoil, the global community faces the difficult task of balancing diplomatic pressure with humanitarian needs, as lives continue to be lost in a conflict with no clear end in sight.