Israel-Hamas peace talks continue as fears grow over regional war
High-level talks to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas ended on Sunday without an agreement but will continue on a lower level. Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah traded heavy fire over the weekend, sparking fears of an all-out regional war.
Peace in Gaza hangs in the balance after a Hamas delegation left Cairo on Sunday after meeting with mediators and receiving an update on the ongoing peace negotiations.
The talks, mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, ended without an agreement, the key sticking point being an Israeli presence along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Lower-level talks will continue in an effort to bridge the gaps.
A peace deal agreement is now more important than ever, as the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated over the weekend, raising concerns about a full-out regional war.
Serious escalation
On Sunday, Israel carried out preemptive strikes in the south of Lebanon as Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets towards the country, marking the most serious escalation in recent months.
Hezbollah said the “first phase” of its strikes against Israel “ended with complete success”, but that further strikes could be carried out. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in turn, said Sunday's events would not be the last action.
The renewed violence could be a serious setback for further peace talks, as it could flare up again at any moment. The negotiations, which a US official called "constructive", have been continuing for months but have so far failed to produce an agreement to end the 10-month war in Gaza.
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike on Zibqin in southern Lebanon © PHOTO KAWNAT HAJU / AFP
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