Gaza ceasefire hopes dim

Israel issued new evacuation orders for Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip late on Sunday, forcing more families to flee, saying its forces intended to act against militant group Hamas and others operating in the area.

In recent days, Israel has issued several evacuation orders across Gaza, the most since the beginning of the 10-month war, prompting an outcry from Palestinians, the United Nations and relief officials over the reduction of humanitarian zones and the absence of safe areas.

The escalation comes with little hope of an end in sight to the war as diplomacy by mediators, Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. has so far failed to close the gap between Israel and Hamas, whose leaders traded blame over the lack of an accord.

Neither Hamas, nor Israel, agreed to several compromises presented by mediators at talks in Cairo on Sunday, two Egyptian security sources said.

A senior U.S. official, however, described the talks as "constructive," saying they were conducted in a spirit on all sides to reach "a final and implementable agreement."

Hamas official Osama Hamdan said the group rejected new conditions made by Israel during the talks, which the group didn't attend, and added that U.S. comments over an imminent ceasefire deal were false and aimed to serve election purposes.

U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration have faced growing protests in the U.S. over aid for Israel ahead of November elections.