Israel-Hamas conflict: clashes in Gaza, upcoming discussions on Rafah. Israel wants to continue its land offensive as far as Rafah, considered to be the last major bastion of Hamas.
U.S. fears the human toll of such an operation and prefers other options such as targeted measures against local Hamas leaders. Qatar - a mediating country with Egypt and the United States - this week ensured the continuation of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at securing a truce of several weeks in the fighting.