Israel Starts Gaza Escalation, Sees Movement in Hostage Talks

Israel advanced its ground forces in Gaza as part of a long-threatened all-out offensive against Hamas, and said the new action prompted the group to resume mediated negotiations on a possible ceasefire and hostage release.

Hamas denied the assertion — issued, unusually, during the Jewish Sabbath by Israel’s defense minister. It said there were ongoing talks in Qatar “without preconditions.”