Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire, Israel Announces Attack on Rafah

Israeli tanks were seen entering Rafah, southern Gaza, several hours after Hamas announced it had agreed to a ceasefire.

AP/ABDEL KAREEM HANA

Palestinian residents in Deir al-Balah, the Gaza Strip, on Monday (5/6/2024), celebrated Hamas' announcement of accepting a ceasefire proposed by Qatar and Egypt.

JERUSALEM, TUESDAY — The Hamas group wants a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while Israel wants to continue attacking the region. The Israeli military began a land invasion into Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, although it was held on a limited scale, Monday (6/5/2024). On the same day, the Hamas group announced that it had accepted the ceasefire proposal offered by Qatar and Egypt.

The Israeli cabinet's decision to approve the attack on Rafah was announced several hours after Hamas announced it had accepted the ceasefire proposal. Israel stated that the ceasefire offer had not met its main demands.

Rafah has been the target of Israeli air strikes in recent months. Under the pretext of disabling the Hamas group, whose leaders and figures are believed to be taking shelter in Rafah, Israel has long planned a massive ground attack on the southern Gaza region.

A Palestinian and Egyptian security official, quoted by the Associated Press (AP) news agency on Tuesday (7/5/2024), revealed that Israeli tanks had entered Rafah and reached 200 meters from the border gate with Egypt. The Egyptian official mentioned that the Israeli ground attack appeared to be on a limited scale.

He and Al-Aqsa TV, which is managed by Hamas, said that Israeli officials had informed Egypt that Israeli troops would be withdrawn from Rafah after completing their operation. The Israeli military refused to comment on the matter.

Also read: Netanyahu Refuses to End Gaza War, Hamas-Israel Negotiations Fail Again

The Egyptian official observed the situation in Rafah from their position in the Egypt-Gaza border area. Meanwhile, the Palestinian official refused to be identified as they are not authorized to provide statements to the press. AP stated that they could not independently verify the scale of the Israeli ground attack that occurred in Rafah.

Previously, on Monday, the Israeli Cabinet of War decided to launch a military operation in Rafah after Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal submitted by Qatar and Egypt. Without providing details, the Israeli military stated that it was conducting "targeted attacks" against Hamas in Rafah.

AFP/MENAHEM KAHANA

Israeli tanks take up positions in southern Israel, near the border with the Gaza Strip, Monday (6/5/2024).

Regarding this matter, Israel has given an ultimatum to at least 100,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza to evacuate from Rafah, especially between Rafah and Al-Bayuk. In their announcement on Monday (May 6, 2024) early morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it would be dangerous for civilians to remain in the designated area that needs to be emptied.

The IDF spokesperson, Nadav Shoshani, stated that 100,000 people were affected by the order. They were asked to go to Al-Mawasi and partly to Khan Younis. Israel claimed to have prepared tents in both areas.

Also read: As the Rafah invasion gets closer, Israel asks 100,000 Palestinian refugees to move

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that as of Monday (5/6/2024), more than 34,600 Palestinian citizens in Gaza had been killed as a result of Israel's attack. The war in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel. Around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack, and about 250 others were held hostage and detained in Gaza. Israel estimates that around 133 people, including the hostages, are still being held captive in Gaza.

Ultimatum for 100,000 citizens

On Monday, Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal put forward by Qatar and Egypt. The decision was made a few hours after Israel issued an ultimatum for about 100,000 Gaza residents to evacuate from military-targeted locations in Rafah.

The rapidly changing situation in Gaza is taking place amidst the failure of the latest negotiations in Cairo. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to resist international pressure to abandon plans for a major attack on Rafah.

The United States and several Western countries are against the plan. International humanitarian organizations have warned that an attack on Rafah will be a new disaster for around 1.4 million residents of Gaza who are taking shelter and fleeing in the southern Gaza region.

AFP

Palestinian residents who were displaced from Rafah, following Israel's ultimatum to leave the area, lowered their belongings to create a shelter in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Monday (6/5/2024).

Responding to the ceasefire proposal from Qatar and Egypt, through a written statement, Hamas revealed that Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh had informed negotiators from Qatar and Egypt that they accepted the ceasefire proposal.

Three stages

The proposal submitted by Egypt and Qatar stated that a ceasefire between Hamas and Egypt would be implemented in three stages. The first stage lasted for 42 days. During this stage, some of the Israeli forces withdrew from the Gaza Strip. As for Hamas, they released around 33 hostages held in Gaza, including women - both civilians and military, children, the elderly, and sick hostages.

Still in the first stage, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons were released: 30 Palestinian prisoners were exchanged with one Israeli civilian hostage, while 50 Palestinian prisoners were exchanged with a female soldier hostage. Additionally, Palestinian refugees are allowed to return to their respective homes.

For the second stage, the parties will negotiate again regarding the implementation agreement. The remaining hostages, whether civilian or military, will be released. Israeli troops will also be withdrawn from all areas of Gaza. In this second phase, a "sustainable calm situation" is created.

AFP/ISRAEL ARMY

Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip in this photo released by the Israeli Army, March 27, 2024.

Israel's response

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister stated that the ceasefire proposal does not meet Israel's demands. Nevertheless, Tel Aviv mentioned they will send a delegation to Cairo to negotiate with the negotiators to achieve an agreement.

"We scrutinize all answers and responses in the most serious way and explore all possibilities related to the negotiation and repatriation of hostages," said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman. "At the same time, we are still carrying out operations in the Gaza Strip and will continue to do so."

An Israeli official, who preferred not to be named, stated that the proposal received by Hamas is a more refined version of Egypt's previous proposal and contains elements that Israel cannot accept.

Regarding the latest situation in Gaza, the spokesperson of the US Department of State, Matthew Miller, stated that Washington will discuss Hamas' response with its allies. He stated that a definite agreement can be reached.

In Doha, Qatar, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that its delegation will depart for Cairo, Egypt, this Tuesday to resume indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel. (AP/REUTERS)