Israeli troops launch a new assault into Gaza's Khan Younis as mediators push for cease-fire talks

Israeli troops launched a new assault Friday into the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis targeting Hamas fighters who the military claims still operate there despite repeated offensives as American Qatari and Egyptian mediators renewed their push for Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire dealIsraeli evacuation orders triggered yet another exodus of Palestinians from the heavily destroyed eastern districts of Khan Younis where many had just returned less than two weeks ago mdash after the Israeli militarys last incursion into the city in JulyThousands fled Thursday carrying essentials like small gas cylinders mattresses tents backpacks and blanketsOfficials from Israel and the United States have said they believe Yahya Sinwar Hamas newly named top leader and one of the architects of the October 7 attack on Israel could be hiding in tunnels under Khan YounisThe military said Friday its warplanes struck 30 Hamas targets in the city including fighters and weapons storage sites It said troops were searching for Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure while engaging in combat ldquoabove and below groundrdquo After 10 months of war in Gaza the mediators push aims to resume indirect negotiations for a ceasefire that have been on hold since Sinwars predecessor Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in a presumed Israeli blast in Tehran on July 31Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed Thursday that it would send negotiators to talks that mediators have called for on August 15 to be held in either Qatars capital of Doha or Egypts capital of CairoThere was no immediate response from Hamas which announced Tuesday that Sinwar the groups leader in Gaza would replace Haniyeh as the groups top leader Haniyeh previously served as the key interlocutor in the negotiationsHaniyehs killing and that of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut brought vows of retaliation from Hezbollah and Iran International diplomats have been scrambling to prevent an escalation and to seal a deal to stop the fighting in Gaza and release the hostages still captive in the enclaveIn a joint statement the United States Egypt and Qatar called for the new round of talks to be held either in Doha or Cairo and pressed both sides to move aheadldquoThere is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delayrdquo they said adding that the negotiators have already finalized a framework for the dealThey said mediators were prepared to present a final compromise ldquothat resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all partiesrdquo It did not elaborate on what that would look likeA key question hanging over the talks is the impact of Sinwars elevation to Hamas top leadership post Seen as a hardliner within the group Sinwar has been in deep hiding in Gaza throughout the war as Israel vows to kill himSinwar has already been closely involved in negotiations from behind the scenes Hamas officials and mediators have said Hamas negotiators regularly sought his approval on the groups positions as it pressed for guarantees that a deal would bring a complete end to the war and withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza in return for the release of all hostagesIsrael has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Oct 7 attack in which militants from Gaza stormed into southern Israel killing around 1200 people and abducting 250 others After a round of release exchanges in November Israel says 111 hostages remain in Gaza including 39 bodiesIts campaign in Gaza has killed more than 39600 Palestinians and wounded more than 91700 others More than 19 million of Gazas prewar population of 23 million have been driven from their homes fleeing repeatedly across the territory to escape offensives Most are now crowded into ramshackle tent camps in an area of about 50 square kilometres 19 square miles on the Gaza coastWith sanitation systems collapsed diseases have run rampant health officials say and humanitarian groups are trying to feed the population The United Nations says a halfmillion Palestinians facing catastrophic levels of food insecurityIsraels military said Friday that its forces were still battling Hamas fighters in Gazas southernmost city Rafah in an assault there that has lasted three months Its new assault in Khan Younis where it has waged multiple offensives this year drove more people into the camps and neighbouring areasGhazi Abu Daka one of the evacuees told the AP that he and his family have had to flee eastern Khan Younis four times nowldquoEvery day there is war Every day there are rockets There is no safe place in the eastern area Now we are displaced in the streets and dont know where to gordquo he said as he carried his son a piece of cloth on his head to protect him from the heatYasser Abu Alyan another evacuee said he was displaced around six times from the Beni Seheila area east of the city He said he took nothing with him except his two little girls ldquoEverything is gonerdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever