Israel has agreed to resume ceasefire talks in Gaza next week at the request of international mediators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, following intense diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing escalation across the Middle East region.
The statement followed Iran's claim that Israel wants to expand the war in the Middle East, as well as repeated accusations by Hamas militants, which the European Union and the United States have designated as a terrorist organization, by some analysts and critics in Israel that Netanyahu has prolonged the fighting in Gaza.
The Israeli army said on Thursday, August 8, that troops had begun operations in the area of Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza from which Israeli soldiers withdrew in April after months of fierce fighting with Hamas.
Israel has vowed to destroy the Palestinian Islamist movement, but during the 10-month war across Gaza, it has returned to some areas to fight the militants again.
Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel in October started a war in Gaza that has drawn in pro-Iranian groups in neighboring countries. After vows of revenge following the killing of two senior militants, fears of a wider Middle East war have grown.
There has been only one truce in the fighting in Gaza, a week-long pause in November when Israeli hostages held by Hamas were freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Mediators from the United States, Qatar and Egypt have been trying for months to secure another deal.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the leaders of the three countries called on the warring parties to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo "to close any remaining gaps and start implementing the agreement without further delay".
Mediators were "prepared to come up with a final bridging proposal" to resolve the remaining issues, they said.
Netanyahu's office said later Thursday that Israel would send a negotiating team "to finalize the details of the implementation of the agreement."
Recent discussions have focused on a framework outlined in late May by US President Joseph Biden, which he said was proposed by Israel. The United Nations Security Council adopted that framework.
(Radio Free Europe)
The Israeli army launched a new attack on the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis today, targeting Hamas fighters, as US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators renewed calls for Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli evacuation orders sparked another exodus of Palestinians from the badly damaged eastern districts of Khan Younis, where many returned less than two weeks ago after the last Israeli army incursion into the city in July.
Thousands of people fled last night carrying basic items such as small gas bottles, mattresses, tents, backpacks and blankets.
Israeli and US officials have said they believe Yahya Sinwar, the newly appointed top Hamas leader and one of the strategists of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, may be hiding in the tunnels beneath Khan Yunis.
The army announced today that its warplanes hit 30 Hamas targets in the city.
The troops were said to have searched for Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure as they engaged in combat "above and below ground".
(Beta)
The leaders of the United States of America (US), Egypt and Qatar have invited Israel and Hamas to meet on August 15 to finalize a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and an agreement on the release of hostages.
As reported by Radio Free Europe, the three countries that tried to mediate in reaching an agreement stated in a joint statement that the talks could be held in Doha or Cairo.
"The framework agreement is now on the table, and all that remains is to conclude the implementation details," the statement said, according to Reuters.
It is emphasized that there is no more time to waste, no excuses from any side for further delay.
"It is time to release the hostages, start a ceasefire and implement this agreement," the statement said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators would be there.
The goal, he added, is to finalize the details and implement the framework agreement.
There was no comment from Hamas.
(MINE)
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