Israel pounds Gaza as PM hopes truce deal within reach

Israeli forces were targeting “terrorist infrastructure” in southern Gaza, the military said Friday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced hope that an agreement with Hamas could be reached within days for a pause in the 21-month war.

Negotiators from Israel and the Palestinian militant group have been locked in indirect talks in Qatar since Sunday to try to agree a temporary ceasefire.

Netanyahu said a lasting truce could follow, but only if Hamas lays down its arms and is no longer…