GAZA STRIP - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized a potential assault on the Gaza city of Rafah while simultaneously keeping hopes for a ceasefire alive through discussions for a possible hostage deal with Hamas. Despite global concerns over civilian casualties, Israel views Rafah as a stronghold of Hamas and plans to evacuate residents before any attack.
The United States, though not privy to the Rafah plan, expressed interest in seeing it. There's cautious optimism from Washington regarding a potential ceasefire-for-hostages proposal by Hamas. Hamas's proposal involves releasing Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences.
Netanyahu's office stated that while Hamas's demands for hostage release remain unrealistic, Israel would still send a delegation to Qatar for talks once the security cabinet deliberated. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defence Force is preparing operationally and for the evacuation of Rafah's population.
Efforts to reach a ceasefire deal before Ramadan failed, but mediators are still determined to prevent an assault on Rafah and allow food aid into Gaza. However, tensions between Washington and Israel are rising, with some U.S. officials criticizing Israel's approach to the conflict.
In Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a residential building, prompting further casualties. Hamas has provided a counter-proposal for a ceasefire, which, like previous offers, includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire to allow aid.
Israeli officials acknowledge significant gaps in negotiating positions with Hamas and warn of the potential costs of bringing Israeli hostages home. The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack in October, has led to significant casualties and displacement.
Amidst this, the arrival of the aid ship "Open Arms" offers a glimmer of hope for Gaza's humanitarian situation. However, challenges remain, with restricted access to aid by land exacerbating the crisis. Despite efforts to distribute aid, incidents of violence and chaos persist.