Gazans fearing Israeli assault on Rafah look to Cairo truce talks for hope

Biden has shown increasing exasperation with Netanyahu for not heeding his advice to do more to minimize casualties and protect civilians in Gaza

A Palestinian salvages belongings after an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, last weekend. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair

US, Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials were expected to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to seek a truce in Gaza as more than a million civilians crammed into a southern corner of the Palestinian enclave, waiting in fear for an Israeli assault.

Amid growing international concern over the plight of civilians, Israeli tanks shelled the eastern sector of Rafah city overnight, residents said, although the anticipated ground offensive did not appear to have started.