Hamas accepts Gaza cease-fire; Israel says it will continue talks but launches strikes in Rafah
JERUSALEM (AP) — After Hamas on Monday introduced its acceptance of an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal, Israel stated its leaders accredited a navy operation within the southern Gaza city of Rafah and commenced hanging targets within the space. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he would ship negotiators to proceed talks on the deal.
The high-stakes diplomatic strikes and navy brinkmanship left a glimmer of hope alive — however solely barely — for an accord that would convey a minimum of a pause within the 7-month-old battle that has devastated the Gaza Strip. Hanging over the wrangling was the specter of an all-out Israeli assault on Rafah, a transfer that america strongly opposes and that support teams warn might be disastrous for some 1.4 million Palestinians taking refuge there.
Hamas’s abrupt acceptance of the cease-fire deal got here hours after Israel ordered an evacuation of Palestinians from japanese neighborhoods of Rafah, signaling an invasion was imminent.
Netanyahu’s workplace stated that the proposal Hamas accepted was “removed from Israel’s important calls for,” however that it might nonetheless ship negotiators to proceed talks on a deal.
On the identical time, the Israeli navy stated it was conducting “focused strikes” in opposition to Hamas in japanese Rafah. The character of the strikes was not instantly recognized, however the transfer might goal to maintain the stress of the Rafah menace on as talks proceed.
President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated U.S. issues about an invasion of Rafah, telling him a cease-fire was one of the best ways to guard the lives of Israeli hostages, in accordance with a Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson, talking on situation of anonymity to debate the decision earlier than an official White Home assertion was launched.
U.S. State Division spokesman Matthew Miller stated American officers have been reviewing the Hamas response “and discussing it with our companions within the area.” An American official stated the U.S. was inspecting whether or not Hamas agreed to a model of the deal that had been signed off on by Israel and worldwide negotiators or one thing else.
Particulars of the proposal haven’t been launched. Touring the area final week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had pressed Hamas to take the deal, and Egyptian officers stated it known as for a cease-fire of a number of levels beginning with a restricted hostage launch and partial Israeli troop pullbacks inside Gaza. The 2 sides would additionally negotiate a “everlasting calm” that may result in a full hostage launch and larger Israeli withdrawal out of the territory, they stated.
Hamas had been looking for clearer ensures for its key demand of an finish to the battle and full Israeli withdrawal in return for the discharge of all its hostages, in accordance with Egyptian officers. It was not instantly recognized if any modifications have been made.
Netanyahu and different Israeli leaders have repeatedly rejected that trade-off, vowing to maintain up their marketing campaign till Hamas is destroyed after its Oct. 7 assault on Israel that triggered the battle.
Israel says Rafah is the final important Hamas stronghold in Gaza, and Netanyahu stated Monday that the offensive in opposition to the city was important to making sure the militants can’t rebuild their navy capabilities.
However he faces sturdy American opposition. After the Israeli evacuation order was issued, Miller stated the U.S. has not seen a reputable and implementable plan to guard Palestinian civilians. “We can not assist an operation in Rafah as it’s at present envisioned,” he stated.
The looming operation has raised international alarm. Support businesses have warned that an offensive will convey a surge of extra civilian deaths in an Israeli marketing campaign that has already killed 34,000 folks and devastated the territory. It may additionally wreck the humanitarian support operation primarily based out of Rafah that’s preserving Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip alive, they are saying.
U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday known as the evacuation order “inhumane.”
“Gazans proceed to be hit with bombs, illness, and even famine. And right this moment, they’ve been informed that they have to relocate but once more,” he stated. “It’ll solely expose them to extra hazard and distress.
Israeli navy leaflets have been dropped ordering evacuation from japanese neighborhoods of Rafah, warning that an assault was imminent and anybody who stays “places themselves and their members of the family at risk.” Textual content messages and radio broadcasts repeated the message.
The navy informed folks to maneuver to an Israel-declared humanitarian zone known as Muwasi, a makeshift camp on the coast. It stated Israel has expanded the dimensions of the zone and that it included tents, meals, water and area hospitals.
It wasn’t instantly clear, nevertheless, if that was already in place.
Round 450,000 displaced Palestinians already are sheltering in Muwasi. The U.N. company for Palestinian refugees, often called UNRWA, stated it has been offering them with support. However circumstances are squalid, with few loos or sanitation amenities within the largely rural space, forcing households to dig non-public latrines.
The evacuation order left Palestinians in Rafah wrestling with having to uproot their households as soon as once more for an unknown destiny, exhausted after months dwelling in sprawling tent camps or crammed into colleges or different shelters in and across the metropolis.
Mohammed Jindiyah stated that at the start of the battle, he had tried to carry out in his residence in northern Gaza underneath heavy bombardment earlier than fleeing to Rafah.
He’s complying with Israel’s evacuation order this time, however was not sure now whether or not to maneuver to Muwasi or one other city in central Gaza.
“We’re 12 households, and we don’t know the place to go. There isn’t any protected space in Gaza,” he stated.
Sahar Abu Nahel, who fled to Rafah with 20 members of the family, together with her youngsters and grandchildren, wiped tears from her cheeks, despairing at a brand new transfer.
“I’ve no cash or something. I’m critically drained, as are the youngsters,” she stated. “Perhaps it’s extra honorable for us to die. We’re being humiliated.”
Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, condemned the “compelled, illegal” evacuation order and the concept folks ought to go to Muwasi.
“The world is already overstretched and devoid of important companies,” Egeland stated. He stated that an Israeli assault may result in “the deadliest part of this battle.”
Israel’s bombardment and floor offensives in Gaza have killed greater than 34,700 Palestinians, round two-thirds of them youngsters and ladies, in accordance with Gaza well being officers. The tally doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. Greater than 80% of the inhabitants of two.3 million have been pushed from their properties, and a whole bunch of 1000’s within the north are getting ready to famine, in accordance with the U.N.
Tensions escalated Sunday when Hamas fired rockets at Israeli troops positioned on the border with Gaza close to Israel’s fundamental crossing for delivering humanitarian support, killing 4 troopers. Israel shuttered the crossing.
In the meantime, Israeli airstrikes on Rafah killed 22 folks, together with youngsters and two infants.
The battle was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel wherein Hamas and different militants killed round 1,200 folks, principally civilians, and kidnapped round 250 hostages. After exchanges throughout a November cease-fire, Hamas is believed to nonetheless maintain about 100 Israelis as effectively the our bodies of round 30 others.
___
Mroue reported from Beirut. Samy Magdy in Cairo and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.