The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been working for weeks on a proposed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that would secure the release of Israeli hostages. And Hamas said on Monday that it had accepted the agreement. Israel proposes temporary ceasefire, announces group terms This was below core demand.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to launch a military operation against Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. increase pressure on Hamas.
“The first priority is to maximize the options for an agreement…that is maximum pressure,” Israel Ziv, a former Gaza Strip commander and former head of the Israeli Directorate of Operations, told reporters Tuesday morning. .
White House National Security and Public Affairs Advisor John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday that the United States was closely monitoring Israeli actions in Rafah, but he indicated so. It did not reach the level of a full-scale military operation. US officials had warned. Kirby said the operation was aimed at cutting off Hamas’ ability to transport weapons across the border to Rafah.
“No matter how they described this, it’s not on par with the size, scale, duration, scope of a large-scale ground operation. But again, it’s just getting started,” Kirby said. “The president was very clear yesterday about his consistent concerns about that. we’re gonna keep looking at it”
“We do not support the operation in Rafah. putting 1.5 million people at greater risk These are people seeking refuge there,” he added.
Israeli Defense Minister Job Gallant said on Tuesday: Israeli military was ready to step up operations If ceasefire negotiations in Gaza break down, this would be a sign of instability in the region.
CIA Director Bill Burns, who has been leading the US effort in negotiations, reportedly Arrived in Cairo on Tuesdaydelegations from Israel, Hamas, Egypt and Qatar also participated.
The White House is tried for months to secure a ceasefire agreement This comes at the same time as the release of hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza in an Israeli attack last October that left more than 34,000 Palestinians killed and tens of thousands more left without adequate food, water and medicine. It will also be possible for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza, which is currently under construction.
Read the full report at TheHill.com.
