Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Gaza Mediators Condemn Israeli Strikes Amid Fragile Ceasefire Efforts
Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are trying to help end the fighting in Gaza.
They said recent Israeli attacks are making that work harder.
Palestinian medics said at least 16 people have been killed since Tuesday.
Israel said it was attacking Hamas militants.
The mediators asked Israel to follow the ceasefire rules and avoid actions that could increase tensions.
A proposed plan would have Hamas give up its weapons in stages.
It would also have Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza and stop military operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas must disarm completely before Israel withdraws.
Hamas said Israel must follow the ceasefire and leave Gaza.
Turkey, Egypt and Qatar condemned recent Israeli strikes in Gaza and urged Israel to honor ceasefire obligations.
Palestinian medics said at least 16 people were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes since Tuesday.
Israel said its military was targeting Hamas militants in the enclave.
The mediators said the attacks threatened regional and international efforts to implement a plan ending the conflict.
A key dispute remains whether Hamas should disarm before or during an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Who
- Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, Israel, Hamas, and U.S. envoy Jared Kushner are central to the report.
- What
- Mediators condemned recent Israeli strikes and warned that they could undermine efforts to end the Gaza conflict.
- When
- The statement was reported on August 20; the strikes reportedly killed people since Tuesday, and the ceasefire took effect last October.
- Where
- The strikes occurred in Gaza; the joint statement was issued by Turkey, Egypt and Qatar.
- Why
- The mediators said the strikes threatened efforts to implement a plan to end the conflict and could escalate regional tensions.
Mediators and Hamas
Israel
Effect of the strikes
Mediators and Hamas
Turkey, Egypt and Qatar said the intensified attacks undermine regional and international efforts to implement the plan and urged Israel to avoid escalation. Hamas has demanded that Israel adhere to the ceasefire.
Israel
Israel said its strikes are targeting Hamas militants.
Ceasefire obligations
Mediators and Hamas
The mediators said Israel should meet its ceasefire obligations, while Hamas has called for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza.
Israel
The Israeli position, as described in the report, centers on continuing military action against Hamas militants and requiring Hamas to disarm fully before withdrawal.
Sequencing of the plan
Mediators and Hamas
The proposed roadmap would have Hamas surrender weapons in phases as Israeli forces withdrew and halted operations; Hamas disputes the implementation sequencing.
Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu rejected that sequencing and insisted Hamas must fully disarm before Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza.
- Mediating countries
- Turkey, Egypt and Qatar
- Reported recent deaths
- At least 16 Palestinians killed in Gaza since Tuesday, according to medics
- Deaths since ceasefire
- At least 1,283 Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began last October, according to Gazan health officials
- Reported Israeli military deaths
- Four Israeli soldiers killed, according to the Israeli military
- Proposed roadmap
- Hamas would give up its weapons in phases while Israeli forces withdrew and halted military operations
- Israeli position
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas must fully disarm before an Israeli withdrawal
- Recent U.S. diplomatic effort
- U.S. envoy Jared Kushner completed a regional visit on Monday without advancing President Donald Trump's plan, according to the report