GAZA: Israel has approved a potential assault on the Rafah city of the besieged Gaza Strip while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive with plans to send another delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible hostage deal with Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Reuters reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the approval of a plan to target the southern edge of the besieged Palestinian enclave, where a significant portion of its 2.3 million residents seek refuge after enduring five months of Israeli bombardment.
The statement issued by Israel indicated that the Israeli Defense Force was making operational preparations, including arrangements for the evacuation of Rafah’s civilian population. However, no specific timeframe was provided, nor was there immediate evidence of heightened military readiness on the ground.
Critically, global allies and critics have urged restraint, expressing concerns over the potential for mass civilian casualties should an assault on Rafah proceed. Nonetheless, Israel contends that Rafah remains a stronghold of Hamas, vowing to eradicate its presence while ensuring the evacuation of residents.
Gaza Ceasefire Efforts
Meanwhile, in Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby addressed the situation cautiously, stating that the United States had yet to review the details of the Rafah plan but expressed interest in doing so. He further noted the possibility of a ceasefire-for-hostages proposal from the Palestinian resistance group, signaling cautious optimism towards ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, senior representatives from Hamas and Yemen’s Houthis convened for a rare meeting to discuss coordinated actions against Israel, as reported by AFP. Discussions centered on mechanisms to bolster resistance efforts in Gaza amidst looming threats of an Israeli ground assault on Rafah.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate a hostage deal have garnered attention on the international stage, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirming Washington’s commitment to bridging remaining gaps in negotiations. Despite Israeli skepticism towards the latest hostage deal proposals, Netanyahu’s office confirmed plans for a military operation in Rafah, underscoring the gravity of the situation in the southern Gaza City.
