Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 50 Palestinians before landmark negotiations in Paris to pause the devastating war in the besieged enclave. The latest strikes are part of an apparent Israeli decision to escalate its offensive to pressure Hamas before the much-anticipated talks, sources reported. In Tel Aviv on Thursday, Israeli officials informed White House co-ordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk that the mandate of the Israeli negotiating team had been “expanded”, the sources said.
