Tel Aviv | The head of the CIA jetted to Europe for talks with Israeli and Qatari officials on Monday (Tuesday AEDT), sounding out the potential for a deal on a new ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, as the US defence secretary spoke to Israeli military leaders about scaling back major combat operations against Hamas.

Still, there was no sign that a shift in the war was imminent after more than two months of devastating bombardment and fighting. Fierce battles raged in northern Gaza, where residents said rescue workers were searching for the dead and the living under buildings flattened by Israeli strikes.

AP