RAFAH: Israel intensified its military assault on the Gaza Strip, particularly targeting the overcrowded city of Rafah, as talks resumed on Wednesday in Cairo aimed at agreeing the terms of a truce in the seven-month-long brutal bombardment campaign.
The Israeli assault, marked by airstrikes and ground incursions, comes amidst mounting international pressure to end the seven-month-long conflict, which has inflicted heavy casualties and widespread devastation in the Palestinian territory. Despite international objections, Israel sent tanks into Rafah on Tuesday and seized the nearby crossing into Egypt that is the main conduit for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.
The situation in Rafah, where Israeli forces launched a ground incursion and seized control of the main crossing into Egypt, has sparked outrage and condemnation from global leaders and humanitarian organizations. The White House denounced the interruption to humanitarian deliveries, saying that the United States had paused a shipment of bombs to Israel due to concerns over its military actions in Rafah.
The Israeli military’s reopening of aid crossings into Gaza did little to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation, with reports of heavy Israeli strikes and shelling across the territory. Palestinian civilians, including women and children, continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with casualties mounting and infrastructure crumbling under the relentless assault.
Meanwhile, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have resumed in Cairo, with all parties present at the table, Egyptian media reported. Hamas officials have declared the latest round of talks as “decisive,” emphasizing their commitment to securing the rights and demands of their people. “The resistance insists on the rightful demands of its people and will not give up any of our people’s rights,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the negotiations.
The Hamas official had previously warned it would be Israel’s “last chance” to free the scores of hostages still in militants’ hands. However, Israel’s seizure of the Rafah crossing and ongoing military operations cast a shadow over the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
International reactions to Israel’s actions have been swift and unequivocal. Qatar and the African Union have called for urgent action to prevent further escalation, while Russia warned of destabilization in an area housing over one million people. The United States, a key ally of Israel, has expressed concern over civilian casualties and emphasized the need for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law.
Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides, appealed “for urgent international action to prevent Rafah from being invaded and a crime of genocide being committed”.
Egypt and Qatar have taken the lead in the truce talks, with Hamas saying Monday it had told officials from both countries of its “approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire”.
Hamas member Khalil al-Hayya told Al Jazeera news channel the proposal involved a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians and a hostage-prisoner exchange, with the goal of a “permanent ceasefire”.
Netanyahu’s office called the proposal “far from Israel’s essential demands”, but said the government would still send negotiators to Cairo.
