Israel launches strikes on Rafah after Hamas agrees to Gaza cease-fire proposal : NPR

Makeshift tents for displaced Palestinians at a brief camp in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Might 3.

Ahmad/Bloomberg/Getty Photos

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Ahmad/Bloomberg/Getty Photos

Makeshift tents for displaced Palestinians at a brief camp in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Might 3.

Ahmad/Bloomberg/Getty Photos

TEL AVIV, Israel — A Gaza cease-fire deal is hanging within the steadiness, as Israel started placing targets in jap Rafah, hours after Hamas mentioned it had accepted a proposal from Egypt and Qatar.

Israel’s authorities mentioned the proposal failed to fulfill its necessities and mentioned it is pushing forward with a navy operation within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, the place earlier Monday it had ordered the evacuation of tens of hundreds of displaced Palestinians.

“The Struggle Cupboard unanimously determined this night Israel will proceed its operation in Rafah, with a view to apply navy stress on Hamas in order to advance the discharge of our hostages and obtain the opposite goals of the conflict,” said a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace.

Egyptian officers near the talks with Hamas advised NPR that the Palestinian motion agreed to a draft that was modified over the weekend. The officers had been talking on situation of anonymity to debate the delicate negotiations. An Israeli delegation didn’t attend the talks in Egypt.

The Israeli prime minister’s workplace mentioned, “Whereas the Hamas proposal is much from assembly Israel’s core calls for, Israel will dispatch a rating delegation to Egypt in an effort to maximise the potential for reaching an settlement on phrases acceptable to Israel.”

The Israeli authorities mentioned Monday it will ship a delegation to barter “an settlement below situations acceptable to Israel.”

Information that Hamas accepted a cease-fire proposal — on the eve of the Gaza conflict’s seven-month mark — briefly raised hopes for some that the combating might come to a pause.

On listening to the information, Israeli family of a number of the 132 hostages remaining in Gaza rallied in central Tel Aviv. A bunch that represents a number of the households, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, issued an announcement saying Hamas’ announcement “should pave the best way for the return” of their family members.

“Now’s the time for all which can be concerned, to satisfy their dedication and switch this chance right into a deal for the return of all of the hostages,” it mentioned in an announcement despatched to reporters.

In the meantime in Gaza, automobile horns erupted within the southern metropolis of Rafah as individuals celebrated information of the cease-fire proposal.

The Egyptian officers advised NPR the proposal included three phases: The primary would entail the discharge of a small variety of hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, in trade for a six-week pause in combating. That may be adopted by a second six-week truce. A 3rd section would come with U.S. ensures of an finish to the conflict.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the White Home Nationwide Safety Council, largely declined touch upon the cease-fire proposal. “We’re presently reviewing that response and we’re discussing it with our companions within the area,” Kirby mentioned of the proposal Hamas agreed to, noting CIA Director Invoice Burns was engaged on the difficulty within the area.

Arabic-language information retailers later printed what they mentioned was the complete textual content of the three-phased deal.

All through the negotiations, Hamas has insisted on a everlasting cease-fire, the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of Palestinians to their properties within the territory’s north, the place Israel controls entry, and the discharge of a lot of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, together with some serving life sentences.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned his nation should retain the best to proceed the conflict and {that a} everlasting cease-fire and Israeli troop withdrawal would depart Hamas, which led the lethal Oct. 7 assault on Israel, intact.

Earlier Monday, the Israeli navy despatched out textual content and voice messages ordering the evacuation of some elements of Rafah, the southernmost metropolis in Gaza that borders with Egypt. The Israeli navy posted maps on social media with arrows instructing individuals the place to go.

Hamas says there are round a quarter-million persons are within the space the place evacuations had been ordered — a number of the greater than 1 million Palestinians who’ve sought refuge within the metropolis from combating elsewhere within the territory.

Folks in Rafah had been advised to depart for an “expanded humanitarian space” in al-Mawasi and Khan Younis, areas north and northwest of town.

1000’s of displaced households inside a United Nations-run faculty within the space advised to evacuate had been busy accumulating their issues Monday morning and unable to seek out any automobile or buggy to take them out of this a part of Rafah.

“We do not know the place to go,” mentioned a younger lady, Tasneem Ishta, heading out of Rafah to the realm of al-Mawasi. “Our pots, pans, utensils, pillows, garments, meals, drink — all the pieces is on this dwelling.”

When requested how she feels, she answered: “I’m very scared.”

For months, Israel has been threatening an assault in Rafah, the place it says Hamas’ final remaining battalions are. America and United Nations have warned towards it.

The White Home mentioned President Biden reiterated his place on Rafah in a name Monday with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The president has mentioned Israel should have a plan in place to make sure civilians’ security.

Aya Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.