Israel steps up Gaza offensive ahead of White House talks on ceasefire

Israel continued its heavy bombardment in northern Gaza after the military issued mass evacuation orders on Monday, while Israeli officials were due in the U.S. for a new ceasefire push by the Trump administration.

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump urged an end to the 20-month-old war, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected at the White House in Washington for talks on a Gaza truce, Iran, and possible wider regional diplomatic deals.

As diplomacy looks set to pick up, on the ground in Gaza there was no sign of fighting letting up.

Palestinians in northern Gaza reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks after the military issued mass evacuation orders.

"Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions."

Israeli tanks pushed into the eastern areas of Zeitoun suburb in Gaza City and shelled several areas in the north, while aircraft bombed at least four schools after ordering hundreds of families sheltering inside to leave, residents said.

At least 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, according to health authorities.

The bombardment followed new evacuation orders to vast areas in the north, where Israeli forces had operated. The military ordered people to head south, saying that it planned to fight Hamas militants operating in northern Gaza, including in the heart of Gaza City.

Ceasefire diplomacy

A day after Trump called to "Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back", Israel's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu's, was expected on Monday at the White House for talks on Iran and Gaza.

In Israel, Netanyahu's security cabinet was expected to convene to discuss the next steps in Gaza.

On Friday, Israel's military chief said the ground operation was close to achieving its goals. On Sunday, Netanyahu said his country's "victory" over Iran in their 12-day war had created "opportunities", including for freeing hostages held in Gaza.

"Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory. First of all, to rescue the hostages," Netanyahu said. "Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both goals."

In a statement late Sunday, the main group representing hostages' families welcomed "the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister."

"This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.

Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages during Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Of these, 49 are still believed to be held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Hamas also holds the body of an Israeli soldier killed there in 2014.

The forum called for the hostages' "release, not rescue".

Turkish talks

Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met senior Hamas leaders on Sunday for talks on Gaza's humanitarian tragedy and efforts to reach a ceasefire, according to state news agency Anadolu.

It was reported Kalin held talks with Mohammad Darwish, head of the political council of Hamas that rules Gaza, and his delegation at an undisclosed location. 

They discussed the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza and Türkiye's efforts to end the war and "ensure the immediate passage of aid" to the territory. 

A Hamas official said progress depended on Israel changing its position and agreeing to end the war and withdraw from Gaza. Israel says it can end the war only when Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

More than 80 percent of the territory is now an Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders, according to the UN.