Israel urges Palestinians to flee

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces urged all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south as they press ahead with a new offensive in the north, south and center of the besieged territory that has already claimed dozens of lives in the past 48 hours.

The escalation of military activity came as U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators met with Israeli officials in the Qatari capital of Doha seeking to push through an elusive cease-fire deal with Gaza’s militant group Hamas.

Israel says it is pursuing Hamas fighters who are regrouping in various areas nine months following a devastating military offensive.

However, the intense attacks in recent days across the territory are also intended to increase pressure on Hamas at the negotiating table.

During a visit to central Gaza yesterday, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said the army was operating in different ways in different parts of the territory “to carry out a very important mission: to exert pressure. We will continue to operate to bring the hostages home.”

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Biden seeks truce for political gain, says Israeli ambassador

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Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, said yesterday that US President Joe Biden is pushing for a truce agreement with the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza to take credit for it and use it in his election campaign.

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