The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has once again escalated, with Israeli tanks taking control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. This move comes as Hamas issued a new ceasefire proposal that Israel deems unacceptable.
Israeli officials are set to travel to Cairo to assess whether Hamas can be persuaded to shift on their latest ceasefire offer. The delegation, made up of mid-level envoys, will be led by officials from the intelligence services Mossad and Shin Bet. The visit to Egypt comes amidst Israeli jets carrying out strikes on eastern Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians have been seeking shelter.
Egyptian officials have reportedly asked Israel to halt the Rafah operation immediately in efforts to contain the escalating situation. Hamas has accused Israel of undermining ceasefire efforts with their military actions in Rafah.
The current ceasefire proposal put forth by Hamas has stretched the framework of a previous proposal to “unacceptable extremes,” according to Israeli officials. The new demands include allowing the release of specific Palestinian prisoners without Israeli veto power and lifting restrictions on the import of dual-use materials into Gaza.
Hamas is offering to release only 18 hostages in the first phase of a truce, as opposed to the 33 hostages that were part of previous proposals. This move puts pressure on Israel to reconsider its offensive actions in Rafah.
The closure of the Rafah crossing, a vital route for aid into Gaza, has further complicated the humanitarian situation in the region. The United States has urged Israel to refrain from launching a military campaign in Rafah until a humanitarian plan for the displaced Palestinians is in place.
As families in the area are instructed to evacuate to an “expanded humanitarian zone” around 20 km away, many are facing uncertainty and displacement once again. Abdullah Al-Najar, a displaced Palestinian, expressed his frustration at being uprooted for the fourth time since the conflict began seven months ago.
The situation in Gaza remains tense as both sides navigate the delicate balance of ceasefire negotiations and military actions. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a peaceful resolution can be reached or if the conflict will continue to escalate.