Five Israeli soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb attack in Gaza overnight after a second round of ceasefire negotiations in Qatar.
An Israeli security official said two explosive devices were detonated against soldiers during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza, killing five soldiers and injuring 14 more.
The latest round of ceasefire talks on the war in Gaza began in Doha on Sunday, continuing but ending with no breakthrough on Monday.
Hamas and Israeli negotiators will resume indirect talks today, with Steve Witkoff, special envoy for Donald Trump, also set to fly out to Doha for negotiations later this week.
Far right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich called for an end to the peace talks in response to the attack on Israeli troops.
“We should not negotiate with those who kill our soldiers. They should be crushed to pieces, starved to death, and not resuscitated with humanitarian aid that gives them oxygen,” Ben-Gvir said.
Israel Katz, the defence minister, told reporters that he had instructed the IDF to create plans to establish a “humanitarian city” in the ruins of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The idea would be to accommodate some of the 600,000 Palestinians who have been living on the coast after being displaced from their homes in the war-torn territory.
Eventually the entire population of Gaza – more than two million people – would live in the zone as the IDF secures it from a distance.
Palestinians would not be allowed to leave the zone, he said.
Speaking to reporters at the beginning of a dinner in Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu said the United States and Israel were working with other countries who would give Palestinians a “better future”.
“If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realize what they always say, that they wanted to give the Palestinians a better future. I think we’re getting close to finding several countries.”
Mr Trump said the US has had “great cooperation” from Israel’s neighbouring countries about the plan. “So something good will happen,” he said.
The US president earlier this year floated relocating Palestinians and taking over the Gaza Strip to turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with JD Vance, the vice president, and the leaders of Congress in Washington later today.
Indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are also expected to continue in Doha.
We’ll bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day.
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Israel-Gaza war latest: Five Israeli troops killed in roadside bomb attack – The Telegraph
