Israel closed the Kerem Shalom humanitarian border crossing into Gaza on Sunday after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets, while weekend talks on a possible ceasefire broke down inconclusively.
The status of the talks was unclear after the latest round in Cairo: Hamas officials said their negotiators had returned to Qatar to consult with the group’s political leadership. CIA Director William Burns also left Cairo for consultations in Qatar, Reuters reported.
Israel and Hamas have been negotiating for weeks through mediators over a possible ceasefire that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. At the same time, Israel has threatened to launch an operation in Rafah, where it says Hamas battalions remain intact and hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are sheltering.
