Israeli military operation intensify in Gaza as talks for ceasefire loom

Reuters. Large plumes of smoke rose from Gaza throughout the day on Tuesday (July 1).

Israeli planes and tanks struck heavily in north and south Gaza, destroying clusters of homes, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confidant was in Washington, expected to discuss a possible ceasefire.

Thousands of Gaza residents again took flight as Israel issued new orders to evacuate, while its tanks pushed into eastern areas of Gaza City in the north and into Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, residents said.

Local health authorities said Israeli gunfire and military strikes across the enclave had killed at least 112 people and wounded more than 400 in the past 24 hours, with clusters of houses reported destroyed in Gaza City’s Shejaia and Zeitoun districts, east of Khan Younis and in Rafah. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu, is in Washington this week to meet with officials at the White House, President Donald Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing on Monday.

Dermer would be exploring possibilities of regional diplomatic deals in the wake of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran last month, as well as ending the Gaza war, according to an Israeli official.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday he expects to travel to the United States next week to meet Trump. A U.S. official said the meeting would be on July 7.

The two leaders are expected to discuss Iran, Gaza, Syria and other regional challenges, an Israeli official in Washington said.