Israel-Hamas war: Israel bombs Gaza as truce talks resume

• Israel says it has conducted airstrikes at two sites in central Gaza.
• IDF troops are said to be active "above and below ground."
• The US, Egypt and Qatar are hoping to get both Israel and Hamas to agree to a truce.

Here is the latest from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on Wednesday, June 5, 2024

06/05/2024June 5, 2024

Mediators continue to push for hostage release, cease-fire

Despite reports of Israeli bombing on Wednesday, US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators were set to resume talks in Doha in hopes of achieving a breakthrough that could lead to a cease-fire and the release of Hamas-held hostages in Gaza.

Efforts have been underway for months though neither of the warring sides appears willing to accept terms put forth by outside mediators — with Israel refusing to end operations before Hamas is entirely wiped out, and Hamas insisting upon a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the implementation of a permanent cease-fire.

US President Joe Biden has called on Hamas to turn over the roughly 80 hostages it is believed to still hold and has called the Islamist group "the only obstacle to a complete cease-fire." Israel, the US, Germany and other nations classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Qatar, which maintains ties with Hamas and is hosting the talks, said it has not heard statements "that give us a lot of confidence" from either side, but added that it was "working with both sides on proposals on the table."

The US has said it is in a "full-court press to get a breakthrough," while Egyptian media said an "Egyptian security delegation will meet with its Qatari and US counterparts in Doha on Wednesday to discuss the mechanism of restoring the truce talks." 

06/05/2024June 5, 2024

Israel expands operations in central Gaza

Israel on Wednesday said its forces had begun "operational activity" in the central Gaza Strip, with forces active "both above and below ground."

Israeli authorities said the operation began with airstrikes on Hamas infrastructure before Israel Defense Forces (IDF) initiated "targeted daylight operations" in Deir al-Balah and Bureij, a Palestinian refugee camp dating back to Israel's foundation in 1948.

"The activity started with a series of air strikes on terror targets, including military compounds, weapons storage facilities and underground infrastructure," the Israeli army said. "During the strikes, several Hamas terrorists were eliminated."

Palestinian sources told French news agency AFP that 12 people had been killed near the Al-Maghazi camp and that two more had been killed near Deir al-Balah.

Gaza civil defense and hospital officials said 11 civilians had been killed in the airstrikes. Neither the Israeli nor Palestinian claims could be independently verified.

js/ab (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)