Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City August 12, 2024. REUTERS/Ayman Al Hassi

Israeli forces continued their operations near Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Monday, even as international efforts intensified to broker a ceasefire and prevent a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its allies.

Palestinian medical teams reported that Israeli airstrikes in various parts of Khan Younis on Monday claimed at least 16 lives and left several others injured. The strikes prompted more families and displaced individuals to flee their homes, responding to fresh evacuation orders.

As the conflict raged across the Gaza Strip, Hamas expressed doubts about the latest round of talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, scheduled for Thursday. The group stated that they had not observed any genuine movement from the Israeli side. Hamas urged mediators to pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire proposal that was previously endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden and had gained Hamas’s approval. They criticized ongoing negotiations, arguing that they only serve to legitimize Israel’s continued aggression.

Sources close to Hamas revealed the group’s skepticism, believing that the new talks were prearranged with Israel to prevent retaliatory actions from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.

A Palestinian official involved in the mediation remarked, “Hamas is cautiously rejecting the proposal. However, should Israel positively respond to the ceasefire plan that Hamas has accepted, the situation could shift. For now, Hamas doubts Netanyahu’s commitment to any agreement.”

As the diplomatic stalemate continued, the likelihood of a broader conflict grew. The United States has deployed additional military assets to the Middle East, including a guided missile submarine and the Abraham Lincoln strike group.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that Iran was reportedly planning a large-scale military assault on Israel, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid.

Israel has been on high alert since last month when an Israeli missile strike in the West Bank killed 12 youths. In retaliation, Israel targeted and killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. The situation escalated further with the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, prompting Iran to vow revenge.

These developments highlight the growing instability in the Middle East, now exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has stretched into its 11th month.

The initial Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities near Gaza resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, with over 250 taken hostage in Gaza, marking one of the deadliest assaults in Israel’s history.

In retaliation, Israeli forces have devastated large parts of Gaza, displacing most of its residents and causing around 40,000 deaths, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The scale of destruction and loss of life has shocked the global community.

On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes targeted a school building in Gaza City, reportedly used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters. While Gaza health officials claim the majority of the victims are civilians, Israel maintains that at least a third were combatants. The Israeli military has also reported losing 329 soldiers in the conflict.