The United States is hosting senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for talks aimed at advancing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, even as Israeli military operations continue across the besieged territory.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet the officials in Miami, Florida, on Friday. A White House official told Al Jazeera Arabic that the discussions will focus on the future of the ceasefire agreement intended to halt Israel’s war on Gaza.
According to Axios, the meeting will include Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty three key mediators involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
At the same time, Israel’s public broadcaster reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a restricted security consultation to assess the second phase of the ceasefire and possible scenarios. An Israeli official warned that Israel could resume a major military campaign aimed at disarming Hamas if US President Donald Trump were to disengage from the process, though the official said such a move was unlikely as Washington seeks to maintain calm.
Despite US assertions that the ceasefire remains in place, Israeli attacks have continued on the ground. Israel has also been accused of violating the terms of the first phase of the truce by restricting the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
On Friday, Israeli forces carried out airstrikes, artillery shelling and heavy gunfire across eastern Khan Younis, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent. Shelling also hit Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, within the so-called “yellow line,” an area Israel was required to withdraw from under the ceasefire agreement.
Al-Aqsa TV reported that Israeli artillery fire in eastern Khan Younis killed at least three Palestinians, including a woman. The broadcaster also said Israeli naval vessels opened fire on fishing boats off the coast.
Additional Israeli strikes were reported in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood, where thick plumes of smoke were seen rising after air raids, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire as diplomatic efforts continue.
