Israel hits southern Gaza, as Paris meeting seeks halt

Israeli strikes ravaged southern Gaza on Sunday, as the CIA's chief met with Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials for ceasefire talks.

Three United States troops were killed by a drone strike in the Jordan-Syria border area. It was the first loss of American military lives to hostile fire since the war began, further raising fears of broader conflict.

The Israeli army reported heavy fighting in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis, the current focus of the battle.

The health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory said at least 24 people were killed Sunday in Israeli strikes on Khan Yunis, where the sound of gunfire reverberated throughout the day.

An Israeli air strike on a house in north Gaza's Shati refugee camp killed 10 people, the ministry said late Sunday, after the Israeli army reported strikes in the north and centre of Gaza.

William Burns, the Central Intelligence Agency director, met in Paris with top Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials.

Israel reported "constructive" discussions. A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "significant gaps" remained and more talks were expected in the coming days.

A security source had confirmed to AFP that United States President Joe Biden was sending Burns to try to negotiate the release of remaining Hamas-held Israeli hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

 'There will be famine' 

More than three months of war have led to a spiralling humanitarian crisis and mass displacement. The U.N. says more than one million people are squeezed into an area near the Egyptian border.

Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, warned that suspending UNRWA...