On Monday, Hamas said that it had accepted a cease-fire proposal from Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel stated that the arrangement did not fulfil its fundamental criteria and that it was continuing with its attack on the city of Rafah, which is located in the southern part of Gaza. Despite this, Israel said that it would proceed with the discussions.
There was a glimmer of hope for an arrangement that might bring at least a respite in the seven-month-long conflict that has destroyed the Gaza Strip, but it was just a glimmer of hope. The high-stakes diplomatic efforts and military brinkmanship left a glimmer of optimism alive. The possibility of an all-out Israeli attack on Rafah loomed over the disputes. This is a move that the United States of America strongly opposes, and aid organisations warn that it would be terrible for the approximately 1.4 million Palestinians who are now seeking safety in Rafah.
The unexpected acceptance of the cease-fire agreement by Hamas occurred only a few hours after Israel issued an order to evacuate around 100,000 Palestinians from the eastern neighbourhoods of Rafah, indicating that an invasion was about to take place.
The Israeli military announced that they were conducting "targeted strikes" against Hamas in the eastern part of Rafah. Soon after that, Israeli tanks invaded Rafah, and according to a Palestinian security officer and an Egyptian official, they got as close as 200 metres (yards) from the border that Rafah has with Egypt, which is one of the neighbouring countries. Both individuals spoke under anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak to the media. Hamas terrorists were responsible for the deaths of four Israeli troops in a mortar strike that Israel said originated close to the Rafah border. The suspected invasion occurred the day after the previous incident.
The official from Egypt said that it seemed as if the operation was somewhat restricted. Independent verification of the breadth of the operation was not possible for the Associated Press journalists.
In addition, Israeli airstrikes struck other areas of Rafah late on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, including a lady and a child, according to authorities at the hospital.
A statement from the Israeli military was not forthcoming.
Israel's War Cabinet made the decision to continue the Rafah operation shortly after Hamas announced that it had accepted the Egyptian-Qatari peace agreement, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, it said that even if the plan that Hamas agreed to "is far from meeting Israel's core demands," it will send negotiators to Egypt in order to work on a compromise over the situation. At the end of Monday, Qatar made the announcement that it would also be sending a squad to Egypt.
In his conversation with Netanyahu, Vice President Joe Biden reaffirmed the United States' worries about an invasion of Rafah. According to Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the United States Department of State, members of the United States government are now analyzing the reaction from Hamas and discussing it with their allies in the area.
There was no instant information available on whether or not the plan that Hamas agreed to was much different from the one that Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States of America urged the terrorist group to accept the previous week. Blinken said that the proposal featured major concessions made by Israel.
The United States was investigating whether the version that Hamas agreed to was the same as the one that Israel and international negotiators approved, or if it was something different, according to an official from the country.
The plan, according to Egyptian authorities, called for a phased implementation of a cease-fire, starting with the release of a limited number of hostages and followed by a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. In addition, the two parties would negotiate a "permanent calm" that would result in the complete release of all hostages and a further departure of Israeli forces from the land, according to their statements.
Hamas attempted to get more transparent assurances on its primary demand, which was for an end to the war and a total withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for the release of all captives; nevertheless, it was unclear if any modifications were made.
On several occasions, Israeli authorities have rejected that trade-off, and they have vowed to continue their campaign until Hamas is eradicated, following the assault that they carried out on Israel on October 7 that sparked the conflict.
There is a lot of pressure coming from Netanyahu's hard-line colleagues in his coalition. Their demands include launching an assault on Rafah, and any agreement he makes could potentially topple his government. Furthermore, he is under pressure from the hostages' relatives to reach an agreement that would allow for their release. They claim that time is running out to protect their loved ones and bring them back home safely, and that a ground operation would put them at far greater risk.
On Monday night, thousands of Israelis gathered in different parts of the nation to support the need for a quick accord. Near the defense headquarters in Tel Aviv, approximately 1,000 people gathered. There were around one hundred demonstrators in Jerusalem who marched towards the house of Netanyahu while carrying a banner that said, "The blood is on your hands."
Israel asserts that Rafah is the last big bastion that Hamas has in Gaza, and Netanyahu said on Monday that the onslaught against the city was essential in order to guarantee that the terrorists would not be able to reconstitute their operational capabilities.
However, the U.S. faces significant resistance. On Monday, Miller said that the United States has not seen a realistic strategy to safeguard Palestinian civilians who are in danger. He stated that the current envisioned operation in Rafah cannot receive our support.
The impending procedure has sparked widespread concern all over the world. In an Israeli campaign that has already resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 people and has wreaked havoc on the region, aid organisations have issued a warning that an attack would bring about an increase in the number of civilian casualties. According to them, it might also lead to the collapse of the humanitarian assistance operation in Rafah, which is responsible for keeping Palestinians alive throughout the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli government ordered Palestinians to leave the eastern neighbourhoods of Rafah via leaflets, text messages, and radio broadcasts. These orders warned that an assault was imminent and that anyone remaining in the area "puts themselves and their family members in danger."
The military instructed people to relocate to a temporary camp on the shore, which Israel designated as a humanitarian zone and named Muwasi. Israel reportedly expanded the zone's area since its initial establishment, adding tents, food, water, and field hospitals.
Despite this, it was not immediately apparent whether or not it was already organized.
Muwasi is currently offering refuge to approximately 450,000 displaced Palestinians. Known as UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has said that it has been giving assistance to Palestinian refugees. In spite of this, the circumstances are deplorable since there are very few sanitary facilities in the mostly rural region, which forces residents to dig their own private latrines.
After spending months living in large tent camps or jammed into schools or other shelters in and around the city, Palestinians in Rafah were left tired and struggling with the prospect of having to uproot their family once again for an uncertain destiny. The evacuation order left them with little choice but to face this challenge. Early on Monday morning, Israeli airstrikes on Rafah resulted in the deaths of 22 people, including two newborns and two toddlers.
Mohammed Jindiyah reported that despite intense bombing at the beginning of the conflict, he attempted to remain in his house in northern Gaza. However, he ultimately fled to Rafah.
In this instance, he is following Israel's order to evacuate, although he was uncertain about whether or not to go to Muwasi or to another location.
The twelve families that make up our group are at a loss for where to go. According to him, there is no secure location in Gaza.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Sahar Abu Nahel, who had fled to Rafah with twenty members of her family, including her children and grandchildren, expressed her desperation at the prospect of a second relocation.
"I do not own any property or money. All of us, even the children, are quite exhausted," she said. "It's possible that our passing would be more honourable. They are making us feel ashamed.
The extraordinary foray into southern Israel that took place on October 7 was the spark that ignited the conflict. During this raid, Palestinian terrorists murdered over 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and kidnapped approximately 250 captives. Reports indicate that Hamas still holds over one hundred hostages during the November cease-fire, along with the remains of approximately thirty additional individuals.
