THE Israeli military says it has taken “operational control” over eastern areas of Bureij refugee camp and the town of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, as dozens of Palestinians were reported killed.
On Wednesday morning, the military said troops backed by air strikes had begun an operation against “terrorists and terrorist infrastructure above and below ground”.
Residents reported intense bombardment and the charity Médecins Sans Frontières said at least 70 dead people – the majority women and children – had been brought to a local hospital since Tuesday.
It came as US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators meet in Doha and Cairo to discuss how to finalise a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The US said on Tuesday it was still waiting for a response from Hamas to what it described as an Israeli proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden last week.
Qatar said it had delivered the plan to Hamas representatives and noted that it was also still waiting for a clear position from the Israeli government.
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said on Wednesday the group would deal “seriously and positively” with a proposal based on an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israel’s prime minister has insisted he will not agree to a permanent ceasefire before Hamas is defeated and the hostages it is holding are released. And on Wednesday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared that “all negotiations with Hamas will be conducted under fire”.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 36,580 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
