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07-05-2024
RAFAH/ GAZA CITY/ CAIRO: Israel’s army has said it has conducted “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah, after rejecting Hamas’s agreement to a ceasefire deal.
Armed factions in Gaza fired rockets into southern Israel in response
Hamas had earlier said it would accept a ceasefire deal drawn up by Egyptian mediators. It was however rejected by Israel as “far from meeting” its “core demands.”
It is not clear exactly what Hamas has agreed to, but the proposal is thought to include the release of hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians within Gaza
Israel’s war cabinet voted to continue operations but is however sending a delegation to indirect talks in Cairo.
The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 252 hostages, according to Israeli tallies
More than 34,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
We’re about to pause our live coverage, but here’s a recap of what happened on Monday.
Hamas leaders said they had agreed to the terms of a ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar. Israel rejected it as “far from meeting” its “core demands”. It is sending a delegation for indirect talks in Cairo to secure an “acceptable” agreement.
Israel’s army says it conducted “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah, after urging civilians to leave. Thousands did just that, moving to what the army calls an expanded “humanitarian area” to the north of Rafah
Israel says the operation is “limited”. In response, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction, which operates alongside Hamas, fired rockets at southern Israel
It is not clear what Hamas agreed to in a potential ceasefire deal negotiated by Egyptian and Qatari moderators, but terms are thought to include release of hostages and the return of displaced Palestinians within Gaza
Israeli negotiators will travel to Cairo for more talks on Tuesday
Protesters came out on the streets of Tel Aviv demanding a ceasefire agreement. A group representing families of Israeli hostages sent a message to government negotiators: “do not return without a signed deal”
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, said the talks between Israel and Hamas were at a “critical” stage: “I don’t know that it gets any more sensitive than right now,” he said.
It’s been difficult to get information from inside Rafah on Israel’s operation there.
The Israeli military said it had conducted “targeted strikes” in eastern Rafah. It earlier ordered the evacuation of some 100.000 people to a new humanitarian camp near Khan Younis.
The Associated Press news agency said Israeli tanks had been spotted heading towards Rafah, on a route very close to the border with Egypt but the media cannot independently verify this.
Images of flares lighting the sky over the Gazan city earlier on Monday, which were sent to media by a Palestinian medic, may suggest ground forces were involved in the raid as flares are often used for illumination and target marking. (Int’l News Desk)
