Israel stops talks as it blitzés south

ISRAEL stepped up its blitz on southern Gaza yesterday as leader Benjamin Netanyahu pulled out of ceasefire talks with Hamas.

- BEN TURNER

Palestinians in Khan Younis said it was the heaviest bombing the city had suffered since the start of the war.

Israel warned civilians on Friday to evacuate certain parts of the south but many have told reporters they had nowhere else to flee to.

The intense strikes, driving up the death toll, came after fragile negotiations hosted in Qatar broke down as Mr Netanyahu ordered his mediation team back to Israel. His office said talks were at a "dead end" as Hamas had failed to honour an agreement to release all its women and children hostages.

He also said Israel had spent the ceasefire preparing for "absolute victory" adding: "The day before yesterday, I instructed the IDF to resume the war with increasing intensity.