Israeli troopers drive a tank at a staging floor close to the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Sunday.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP
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Tsafrir Abayov/AP
Israeli troopers drive a tank at a staging floor close to the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on Sunday.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP
JERUSALEM — The latest spherical of Gaza cease-fire talks led to Cairo after “in-depth and serious discussions,” the Hamas militant group stated Sunday, reiterating key calls for that Israel once more rejected. After earlier indicators of progress, the outlook appeared to dim as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to withstand worldwide strain to halt the warfare.
Israel closed its principal crossing level for delivering badly wanted humanitarian help for Gaza after Hamas attacked it. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas wasn’t severe about a deal and warned of “a powerful operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places across all of Gaza.”
Israel did not ship a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went for discussions in Qatar, the place the group has a political workplace, and can return to Cairo for additional negotiations on Tuesday.
Another risk to talks got here as Israel ordered the native workplaces of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban didn’t seem to have an effect on the channel’s operations in Gaza or the West Bank.
Netanyahu, underneath strain from hard-liners in his authorities, continued to decrease expectations for a cease-fire deal, calling the important thing Hamas calls for “extreme” — together with the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an finish to the warfare. That would equal give up after the Hamas assault on Oct. 7 that triggered the preventing, he stated.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in a assertion earlier stated the militant group was severe and optimistic in regards to the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the primary precedence.
But Israel’s authorities once more vowed to press on with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost Gaza metropolis on the border with Egypt the place greater than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents now search shelter from Israeli assaults. Rafah is a key entry level for help.
A principal crossing level for delivering help for Gaza is now closed
Kerem Shalom, now closed, is one other. The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles had been launched on the crossing in southern Israel and stated its fighter jets later struck the supply. Hamas stated it focused Israeli troopers within the space. Israel’s Channel 12 TV channel stated 10 folks had been wounded, three critically. It was unclear how lengthy the crossing can be closed.
The head of the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, known as for an unbiased investigation and “accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian workers.” He additionally stated Israel this week denied him entry to Gaza for a second time.
The closing of Kerem Shalom got here shortly after the top of the U.N. World Food Program asserted “full-blown famine” in devastated northern Gaza, one of the outstanding warnings but of the toll of restrictions on help getting into the territory. The feedback weren’t a formal famine declaration.
In expanded remarks as the total NBC interview was launched, WFP chief Cindy McCain stated famine was “moving its way south” in Gaza and that Israel’s efforts to permit in additional help weren’t sufficient. “We have right now a mass on the outside border, about enough trucks and enough food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to get that in,” she stated.
Gaza’s huge humanitarian wants put strain on the pursuit of a cease-fire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators put to Hamas units out a three-stage course of that might deliver a direct, six-week cease-fire and partial launch of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7, and would come with some type of Israeli pullout. The preliminary stage would final for 40 days. Hamas would begin by releasing feminine civilian hostages in change for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Netanyahu claimed that Israel has proven willingness to make concessions however stated it “will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.” That consists of the said intention of crushing Hamas. Israel says it should goal Rafah to strike remaining fighters there regardless of warnings from the U.S. and others in regards to the hazard to civilians.
An Israeli strike Sunday on the al-Attar household home in an city refugee camp close to Rafah killed 4 youngsters, together with a child, and two adults, based on Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.
Another Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed a minimum of 5 folks, based on Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which acquired the our bodies. Israel’s military stated it struck a Hamas command heart in central Gaza. It did not point out casualties.
In a fiery speech for Israel’s annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: “I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.”
The Hamas cross-border assault on Oct. 7 killed some 1,200 folks and took 250 others hostage. Israel says militants nonetheless maintain round 100 hostages and the stays of greater than 30 others. Netanyahu is underneath rising strain from some hostages’ households to make a deal to finish the warfare and get hostages freed.
Israeli’s air and floor offensive has killed over 34,500 folks, based on Palestinian well being officers, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants however say girls and kids make up a majority of these killed.
Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, with out offering proof to again up the declare.