Submitted2024.05.08 11:38
Edit2024.05.08 11:38
Israel is sticking to its policy to attack Rafah… Fear of a civilian disaster
Negotiations remain deadlocked due to differences of opinion on whether to end the war or a temporary ceasefire
“This is a military operation as a bargaining lever”… CIA director to meet with Netanyahu soon The chaotic war in Gaza has reached a critical stage again as Israel and Hamas begin difficult negotiations during in which Israel moves tanks and aims to advance on Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. Negotiating delegations between Israel and Hamas resumed negotiations on a cease-fire and hostilities in Cairo, Egypt, on the 7th (local time) under the mediation of the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Hamas accepted the cease-fire plan put forward by the mediators the day before, but it is expected to suffer because it includes measures that Israel did not agree to before -hand, such as the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and the lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
After announcing the resumption of talks in an online briefing earlier in the day, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said, “A close assessment of the situation on both sides indicates that both sides must bridge the gap is left to narrow,” and he said, “We support that process.” “I will do what I can to do it,” he said. He explained that the cease-fire plan that Hamas accepted was an agreed upon plan.
Although he hoped for an early conclusion to the talks, he maintained a cautious stance, saying it would be “irresponsible” to expect them to materialize.
Negotiation problems were expected. Israel sent in a negotiating team the day before and assessed that “Hamas’ proposal is not good enough to meet Israel’s main demands.”
Israel has consistently opposed a ‘permanent ceasefire’.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message that day, “Hamas’ cease-fire proposal was intended to hinder operations to enter Rafah,” and emphasized, “That did not happen.” He said, “Israel cannot accept any proposal that threatens the safety of its citizens and the future of the country,” and added, “I have instructed the negotiation team to deal strictly with the release Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said, “Military operations will continue in Rafah and throughout the Gaza Strip until Hamas is eliminated or the first enemy is returned.”
The United States decided to send William Burns, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to Cairo to coordinate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostilities resolution talks behind the scenes.
Director Burns plans to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu to push for measures to protect civilians in Gaza.
The Israeli military previously took control of the Rafah checkpoint, the only passage from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and also closed the Kerem Shalom border checkpoint, which allows access to the Gaza Strip from southern Israel.
Fears of an urban war in Rafah continue as key corridors have been secured to enable an immediate wide-scale operation in the event of a breakdown in talks.
However, the United States, which is trying to prevent a ground war, drew the line that Israel’s takeover of the border checkpoint was not part of a major offensive in Rafa.
National Security Correspondence Adviser Kirby said that Israel described it as an operation of limited scope, scale and time to prevent Hamas’ ability to smuggle weapons and money into the Gaza Strip.
According to the American Daily Wall Street Journal (WSJ), experts assessed Israel’s takeover of the Rafah checkpoint as a strategic choice directly related to the ceasefire negotiations and hostilities.
This is an attempt to increase bargaining power by sending the message to Hamas that Israel can carry out military operations wherever it wants.
However, tensions are growing as if negotiations break down, a street battle in Rafah, which will inevitably cause massive civilian casualties with the Israeli military, could occur at any time.
Concerns that the humanitarian crisis in Rafah will deepen are growing as two checkpoints, the main route through which aid supplies enter the Gaza Strip, are blocked.
Currently, 1.4 million people, more than half of the Gaza Strip’s population of 230, have taken refuge in Rafah.
“The closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom checkpoints is particularly damaging to an already massive humanitarian crisis,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Hamas also criticized the Israeli operation, saying there was a serious risk of blocking the flow of humanitarian aid to Rafah, and urged “the United States and the international community to put pressure on Israel to prevent a war.” . ” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing that she had heard that Israel would open the Kerem Shalom checkpoint on the 8th, saying, “It is impossible that they (checkpoints) were blocked .” / great news
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2024-05-08 02:38:16
