Israel's military proposes three Gaza strips within war-torn enclave if ceasefire deal with Hamas falls through
Israel has proposed a plan to split Gaza into three defined strips to impose further control on Palestinians if a ceasefire deal with terrorist group Hamas falls through.
In a map leaked by diplomats who were briefed on the plan, and seen by The Sunday Times, Israel could seek to cordon Gaza off and assign military zones in the north, south and centre of the enclave.
Civilians would be forbidden to travel between zones without permission, based on the proposal.
Foreign companies, which were assigned to distribute and manage humanitarian aid and support, who had also seen the plans, said the proposed restrictions could stop civilians from moving freely around Gaza and could obstruct them from their land and homes.
Israel and Hamas resumed ceasefire talks on Saturday in Qatar, even as Israeli forces ramped up a bombing campaign that has killed hundreds of people over 72 hours, and mobilised for a massive new ground assault.
Palestinian health authorities said at least 146 people had been confirmed killed in the third day of Israel's latest bombing campaign, one of the deadliest waves of strikes since a ceasefire collapsed in March.
Many hundreds more were wounded in hospitals and countless others buried under rubble.
Israel says it is mobilising to seize more ground in Gaza in a new campaign dubbed "Operation Gideon's Chariots", following a visit this week to the Middle East by US President Donald Trump.
It has halted all supplies entering Gaza since the start of March, leading to rising international concern over the plight of the enclave's 2.3 million residents.
Taher Al-Nono, the media advisor for the Hamas leadership, told Reuters a new round of indirect talks with the Israeli delegation in Doha began on Saturday, discussing all issues "without pre-conditions".
"The Hamas delegation outlined the position of the group and the necessity to end the war, swap prisoners, the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and allowing humanitarian aid and all the needs of the people of Gaza back into the strip," he said.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also said in a statement that negotiations on a deal to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas had resumed in Doha.
He noted that the talks had started without Israel first agreeing to a ceasefire or to lift its blockade.
Israel's military said it was conducting extensive strikes and mobilising troops with the aim of achieving "operational control" in parts of Gaza.
An Israeli airstrike killed at least 24 Palestinians in a tent encampment housing displaced families in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, local health authorities said on Sunday, as mediators hosted a new round of talks between Israel and Hamas.
The Gaza health ministry said Israeli strikes in the past few days had killed hundreds of Palestinians.
Hamas described the strike as a "new brutal crime" in a statement on Sunday and blamed the US administration for the escalation.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday Agenda, Republican political strategist Matt Klink said Hamas had been the 'stumbling block' towards peace.
'They still have hostages. And if they give back the hostages, I have a feeling that the Israelis would be more than likely to stop what they're doing,' he said.
'But Hamas brought this on the Gazans and the Palestinians. This is not something that the Israelis asked for.'
-with Reuters
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