Israel has approved a potential attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, while maintaining hope for a ceasefire, Reuters reports UNN.
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The administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had approved a plan to attack a city in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, where more than half of the 2.3 million residents of the Palestinian enclave are hiding after five months of war.
International allies and critics have urged Netanyahu to refrain from attacking Rafah, fearing numerous civilian casualties. However, Israel claims that it is one of the last hideouts of Hamas, a movement it has vowed to destroy. Israel also said that local residents would be evacuated.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the United States has not seen the Rafah plan, but would like to see it. According to Kirby, Hamas's proposal for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages is within the realm of possibility.
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Reuters reported that Hamas has presented a ceasefire proposal to mediators and the United States, which provides for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences.
A statement from Netanyahu's office regarding the Rafah attack plan says that Hamas's demands for the release of hostages are unrealistic, but that the Israeli delegation will go to Doha anyway.
The Israeli statement says that the IDF is "preparing for the operation and evacuation of the population" of Rafah. The document does not specify a time frame, and there is no evidence of additional preparations on the ground.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters in Austria that the United States wants Israel to present a clear and implementable plan for Rafah, including the withdrawal of civilians from the area.
Israeli army presents evacuation plan for Rafah to government26.02.24, 04:20 • [views_30862]
