Leaders of Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, as Israel considers moving forward with a planned offensive in the southern Gaza Strip. Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, informed Qatari and Egyptian officials of the breakthrough in negotiations for a ceasefire. The proposal has not yet been officially reacted to by Israel, with reports suggesting that the government has not signed off on it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously rejected Hamas’ demands for a ceasefire that he felt would leave the group intact. The U.S. has advocated for a ceasefire that would lead to the release of hostages held by Hamas and has urged Israel not to proceed with the planned offensive.
Israel has not officially responded to the ceasefire proposal, but reports indicate that the government has not yet approved it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected previous demands from Hamas for a ceasefire that would leave the group intact. The U.S. has called for a ceasefire that would result in the release of hostages held by Hamas and has advised Israel against moving forward with the planned offensive in Rafah. More than one million Palestinians have fled fighting in the heavily populated Gaza Strip and are currently seeking refuge in Rafah.
In the southern Gaza Strip, smoke is seen billowing after Israeli strikes as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continues. The IDF announced a temporary evacuation of residents in parts of Rafah, and Hamas subsequently agreed to the ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt. While Israeli officials have not officially responded to the news of the ceasefire agreement, Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated that he is prepared to carry out the offensive in Rafah with or without a ceasefire deal, regardless of backing from Washington.
The IDF has begun evacuating residents in Rafah in what they claim is a safe and secure manner, with humanitarian activities being expanded, and alerts being issued via various forms of communication in Arabic. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani of the IDF stated that the relocations are being conducted according to an orderly plan to dismantle Hamas and create conditions for the release of hostages. The situation in Rafah remains tense as both Hamas and Israel consider their next steps in light of the proposed ceasefire agreement.
As the ceasefire proposal continues to unfold, the situation in Rafah remains uncertain. Hamas has agreed to the proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, while Israel has not officially responded to the news. The U.S. has called for a ceasefire that would result in the release of hostages held by Hamas and has urged Israel not to proceed with the planned offensive in Rafah. Both sides are assessing the situation and considering their next steps as tensions in the region remain high. Newsweek will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
