Hamas says latest cease-fire talks have ended. Israel vows a military operation soon : NPR

JERUSALEM — The most recent spherical of Gaza cease-fire talks resulted in Cairo after “in-depth and critical discussions,” the Hamas militant group mentioned 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 stress to halt the warfare.

Israel closed its principal crossing level for delivering badly wanted humanitarian assist for Gaza after Hamas attacked it. Protection Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Hamas wasn’t critical a couple of deal and warned of “a strong operation within the very close to future in Rafah and different locations throughout 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.

One other risk to talks got here as Israel ordered the native workplaces of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite tv for pc information community to shut, 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 Financial institution.

Netanyahu, beneath stress from hard-liners in his authorities, continued to decrease expectations for a cease-fire deal, calling the important thing Hamas calls for “excessive” — together with the withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza and an finish to the warfare. That will equal give up after the Hamas assault on Oct. 7 that triggered the preventing, he mentioned.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in a press release earlier mentioned the militant group was critical and optimistic in regards to the negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the primary precedence.

However Israel’s authorities once more vowed to press on with a army 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 assist.

A principal crossing level for delivering assist for Gaza is now closed

Kerem Shalom, now closed, is one other. The Israeli army reported 10 projectiles had been launched on the crossing in southern Israel and mentioned its fighter jets later struck the supply. Hamas mentioned it focused Israeli troopers within the space. Israel’s Channel 12 TV channel mentioned 10 folks had been wounded, three critically. It was unclear how lengthy the crossing could be closed.

The pinnacle of the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, referred to as for an impartial investigation and “accountability for the blatant disregard of humanitarian employees.” He additionally mentioned 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 Meals Program asserted “full-blown famine” in devastated northern Gaza, one of the outstanding warnings but of the toll of restrictions on assist getting into the territory. The feedback weren’t a proper famine declaration.

In expanded remarks as the total NBC interview was launched, WFP chief Cindy McCain mentioned famine was “shifting its means south” in Gaza and that Israel’s efforts to permit in additional assist weren’t sufficient. “Now we have proper now a mass on the surface border, about sufficient vans and sufficient meals for 1.1 million folks for about three months. We have to get that in,” she mentioned.

Gaza’s huge humanitarian wants put stress on the pursuit of a cease-fire. The proposal that Egyptian mediators put to Hamas units out a three-stage course of that may convey 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 mentioned it “will proceed preventing till all of its goals are achieved.” That features the acknowledged 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, in response to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.

One other Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed no less than 5 folks, in response to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which obtained the our bodies. Israel’s army mentioned 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 quantity of stress, no choice by any worldwide discussion board will cease 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 beneath rising stress 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, in response to Palestinian well being officers, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants however say ladies and youngsters make up a majority of these killed.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. The Israeli army says it has killed 13,000 militants, with out offering proof to again up the declare.