Israeli forces have continued offensive near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis amid international pressure for a deal to end fighting in Gaza and prevent a wider regional conflict with Iran and its allies. Palestinian doctors said at least 18 people were killed and several injured in Israeli military attacks on Khan Younis on Monday. Meanwhile, due to new evacuation orders, many families and displaced people came out of the attack area. People were asked to vacate the area.
Israeli air strikes killed five people in the Zeitun suburb of Gaza City and two others in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, doctors said. As fighting continues, Hamas expressed doubt over new talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar to be held on Thursday, saying it has seen no movement from the Israeli side.
The group said on Sunday that mediators should force Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal based on US President Joe Biden’s ideas.
Two sources close to Hamas told news agency Reuters that the group believed the new call for talks had already been coordinated with Israel. He said this was done to prevent reactions from Iran and Hezbollah to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the group’s head in Tehran, and a top Hezbollah leader in Lebanon.
These allegations against Netanyahu
A Palestinian official involved in mediation efforts said that you could say this is a mild rejection. If Hamas finds a workable plan, and Israel gets a positive response to the proposal, things could change, but so far Hamas believes that Netanyahu is not serious about reaching an agreement. Hamas’s reaction to the talks came as preparations for a large-scale conflict have increased. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant told US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran is preparing a major military attack on Israel.