Middle East talks step up as region teeters on the brink of all-out war

MIDDLE East talks will step up today as the region teeters on the brink of all-out war.

Fresh Gaza ceasefire negotiations will resume in the hope of deterring Iran from launching an attack on Israel.

EPA

Middle East talks will intensify today as the region teeters on the brink of all-out war[/caption]

Reuters

US President Joe Biden said: ‘We’ll see what happens if there’s any attack, but I’m not giving up’[/caption]

It has been promising a retaliatory strike after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran last month.

Last-ditch talks in Qatar are expected to propose a ceasefire deal where Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be traded for hostages still held in Gaza.

US President Joe Biden said: “We’ll see what happens if there’s any attack, but I’m not giving up.”

But Israeli diplomats warned it was still preparing for “a significant set of attacks”, with its military at its highest alert level.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, warned: “As we speak here now, millions of Israelis are preparing for a direct Iranian attack, just as they did in April.

“Iran’s aggression threatens the entire region with war.”

 America has already beefed up its military presence in the region.

 Meanwhile, Hamas said it would not attend the negotiations.

And Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis still pose a regional threat.

Rebel fighters, who have attacked Red Sea shipping, protested against the US earlier this week.

A number of airlines, including EasyJet and Ryanair, have already suspended flights to and from the region amid the growing tension.

Iran wants to avenge the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil by Israel last monthAlamy