Israel Strikes Gaza’s Rafah Ahead of Truce Talks in Egypt

Israel carried out strikes on the Gazan city of Rafah overnight in an effort to put pressure on Hamas ahead of talks in Egypt aimed at sealing a truce proposal. The strikes resulted in heavy bombardment throughout the night, with the Kuwaiti hospital reporting five people killed and several others injured.

Hamas had previously approved a ceasefire proposal put forth by mediators Egypt and Qatar, prompting cheering crowds to take to the streets of Rafah. However, talks earlier in the day failed to produce an agreement, leading Israel to continue its operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas.

The proposal agreed to by Hamas involves a three-phase truce, including a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians, and a hostage-prisoner exchange with the goal of a permanent ceasefire. Qatar announced that it would send a delegation to Cairo to resume negotiations in the hopes of reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

International concern has been growing over the potential consequences of an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling on both Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal to avoid devastating humanitarian consequences.

Egypt and Jordan have also urged Israel to exercise restraint, with Jordanian King Abdullah II asking US President Joe Biden to intervene to prevent a “new massacre” in Rafah. Biden reiterated his opposition to an invasion of the city in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The situation in Rafah remains tense, with thousands of people leaving the city in response to the Israeli military’s evacuation order. Aid groups have expressed concern over the lack of preparedness in the designated humanitarian area and the potential for further civilian suffering and deaths if an offensive were to occur.

As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the developments in Rafah and the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.