Gulf – Agencies
Israeli army forces attacked the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side, stationed their tanks in the area and took full control of the crossing.
Several sources circulated photos of the Israeli flag being raised on the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Palestinian media reported that the movement of passengers and the entry of aid passing through the entrance to the Gaza Strip had been completely halted as a result of the Israeli storm on the crossing.
For its part, the Israeli army said it killed 20 militants in Rafah, and that the 401st Division took active control of the Palestinian side of the crossing, adding that the 162nd Division began a surprise operation against Hamas targets. east of Rafah.
He continued: His special forces are deployed at the Rafah crossing, and that the military operation continues, noting that the Air Force bombed Hamas targets, including buildings weapons and infrastructure in the city.
The Hamas movement announced on Monday that it had informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators that they had agreed to their proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, at a time when US President Joe Biden, during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that the best way to protect people’s lives is to … respond to the cease-fire proposal, while Israel’s response ranged from skepticism to announcing… Investigating a ‘ proposal, accused of making changes to it, while the families of the hosts and the opposition put pressure on Netanyahu to conclude the agreement.
Hamas said in a statement, “The head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, made a phone call with the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, and with the Egyptian Minister of Information, Abbas Kamel, and told them about the motion’s approval of their proposal for a cease-and-desist agreement.” Hamas had previously confirmed, on Monday, that talks would continue “positively and with an open heart,” despite Israel’s call for residents of the eastern areas of Rafah to leave.
Hamas Political Bureau member Khalil al-Hayya explained that the Egyptian-Qatari peace proposal approved by the movement includes three stages with the aim of ending a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayya said in a press interview, “The proposal made by the mediators in Qatar and Egypt includes three phases, each phase lasting 42 days, with the goal of a ceasefire end completely gone from Gaza, the return of those who went astray, and exchanged with prisoners.”
On the other hand, an Israeli official said that the silence to which Hamas has expressed its approval is a “watered down” version of the Egyptian proposal that includes “extensive” decisions that Israel cannot accept . The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “This appears to be a deception aimed at making Israel appear to be the side rejecting the agreement. “
For his part, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters, “I can confirm that a response has been issued by Hamas.” “We are currently investigating this response and discussing it with our partners in the area. ” Miller said that the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, “is in the department working on this immediately.”
Miller said, “We still believe that there is an agreement on the guards in the interest of the people of Israel and in the interest of the people of Palestine.” While the United States is investigating the response of Hamas, the administration of President Joe Biden renewed his call on Israel not to attack Rafah, after Israel issued evacuation orders. “We have not seen a credible and workable humanitarian plan,” Miller said.
The White House announced on Monday that it continues to pressure Israel to prevent a major military attack on the Gaza city of Rafah.
White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that CIA Director William Burns was in the area to hold discussions regarding the Hamas response. Kirby declined to provide any details about what was agreed, saying he did not want to jeopardize any deal.
Kirby said: “We want to expel these enemies, we want to reach a ceasefire for six weeks, we want to increase humanitarian aid,” noting that “the best outcome is – there would never be an agreement.”
Kirby said that President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for about 30 minutes in a phone call when they discussed the situation in Rafah, the proposed agreement regarding the hostages and the ceasefire, before they received the answer of Hamas.
Kirby said the discussions were helpful. He said: “The call was not pressure, or arm twisting to agree to a certain set of terms. ” He said Burns is talking about Hamas’ response to Israel. He said: “We are now at a critical stage.”
Kirby said Biden reiterated to Netanyahu his clear position that the United States “does not support ground operations in Rafah,” saying Israel should not move forward with the plan to attack on the city if he does not show ways to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians. there
An American official said that Israel is not negotiating in good faith. He said: “Netanyahu and the warring government did not seem to approach the latest phase of talks with Hamas with any serious intent.”
Biden’s call with Netanyahu came hours after Israel asked the Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah.
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2024-05-07 05:20:54
