Israel Agrees To Talk Peace

Israel has agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks next week at the request of international mediators after intense diplomacy aimed at averting a region-wide conflagration.

The announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office followed an Iranian claim that Israel wanted to spread war in the Middle East, as well as repeated accusations by Hamas officials, some analysts and critics in Israel that Mr Netanyahu had prolonged the fighting for political gain.

Israel’s military said troops were operating around Khan Yunis, the southern Gaza city from which soldiers had withdrawn in April after months of fierce fighting with Hamas.

Israel has vowed to destroy the Palestinian group in retaliation for its October 7 attack, but during 10 months of war across the Gaza Strip the military has found itself returning to some areas to fight the militants again.

“Enough!” shouted Khan Yunis resident Ahmed al-Najjar. “Have mercy on us, for God’s sake, the young children and women are dying in the streets. Enough!”

After the military issued an evacuation order for parts of Khan Yunis, AFPTV images showed a crowd of people flowing through dusty, damaged streets on foot or on donkey and motorcycle carts piled with belongings.

“We’ve been displaced 15 times,” said Mohammed Abdeen.

The Gaza war has already pulled in Iran-aligned groups in the region, and fears of a broader Middle East war have increased following vows of vengeance for the killing of two senior militants, including Hamas’s political leader.

There has been only one, week-long truce in the Gaza fighting, in November. US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have for months tried to secure a second. The three countries’ leaders invited the warring parties to resume talks on August 15 in Doha or Cairo.

Mr Netanyahu’s office said Israel would send negotiators. Hamas has yet to comment.