Ceasefire hopes fade as Israeli strikes continue to ravage Gaza

Hopes were dwindling Thursday for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where fighting raged despite pressure from the United States on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.

The prolonged conflict, surpassing ten months since its inception following Hamas's unprecedented Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has left Gaza devastated, displacing nearly the entire population and causing a severe humanitarian crisis.

Efforts for diplomatic resolution have intensified amid fears of a broader conflict sparked by killings attributed to Israel, which have prompted threats of reprisals from Iran and its allies. Although U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his latest Middle East tour on Wednesday aimed at securing a ceasefire, no breakthrough was achieved.

U.S. President Joe Biden later pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call to accept a ceasefire deal, amidst pressure from pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the U.S. Democratic party's convention ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

"The president stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles," the White House said.

Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel, countering threats from Iran and its affiliates.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic party's candidate in the U.S. presidential election, also took part in the call.

However, optimism remains tempered. Reports suggest Netanyahu, leading a tenuous right-wing coalition, disagrees with a key component of the negotiations concerning the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza-Egypt border. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted knowledgeable sources claiming "the chances for a...