New Gaza cease-fire talks hope to avert Israel-Iran war; Hamas won't attend

High-stakes negotiations will take place Thursday as the United States hopes for a breakthrough that would not just end the war between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of hostages but avert a wider conflict across the Middle East.

High-stakes negotiations will take place Thursday as the United States hopes for a breakthrough that would not just end the war between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of hostages but avert a wider conflict across the Middle East.

Mediators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar will meet in Doha to try to broker a cease-fire deal that has proved elusive through months of mounting devastation in the Gaza Strip as well as rising tensions between Israel and Iran.

A delegation of top officials from Israel will be in attendance in the Qatari capital, though Hamas confirmed Wednesday it will not take part — a blow to Washington's hopes of securing an agreement that might head off a retaliatory attack by Iran.

The talks come as the death toll in Gaza passed 40,000, according to the enclave's health ministry.

A boy walks among rubble in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP - Getty ImagesThe region has been on edge since the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of a top Hezbollah commander, both widely believed to be the work of Israel. The U.S. rushed new firepower to the area this week, but President Joe Biden suggested Iran might hold off on an attack if a Gaza truce deal can be reached.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-gaza-cease-fire-talks-israel-iran-war-hamas-attend-rcna166693

---