Ceasefire Talks, Rafah Invasion & Other Headlines

Tuesday Digest (05.07.24)

As Ceasefire Talks Continue, Is a Rafah Invasion Imminent?

Over the weekend, negotiations stalled between Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement related to a ceasefire and hostage release. Then late yesterday, Hamas announced it had accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar.

As citizens in Gaza began to celebrate, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office pushed back, saying the deal was “far from meeting Israel’s core demands” and continued its threat of a full assault on Rafah. Israel has so far been conducting targeted strikes in eastern Rafah, but has also issued a full evacuation order in Rafah—indicating a ground invasion may be coming soon.

As of this morning, Israel says it has established “operational control” of the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, which is where supplies and humanitarian aid has been passing into Gaza, according to The Washington Post:

The IDF said it evacuated the “vast majority” of residents and staff of international aid organizations near the crossing…

“It was a very targeted operation, very limited in scope against a specific target. We have indications that the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing was being used by Hamas,” the official said, referring to projectiles fired from the area on Sunday, which killed four Israeli soldiers at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Gaza has called the military operation a form of punishment against the wounded and sick, calling that crossing “the main lifeline for citizens in the Gaza Strip.”

There is no official deal yet. Israel has sent a delegation to Cairo to continue working on an agreement—but still insists its operation in Gaza will continue until Hamas is wiped out. This may be true, or it may be that the likelihood of an attack on Rafah could keep pressure on Hamas as negotiations continue.

Netanyahu also said that any withdrawal from Gaza would be the equivalent of Israel surrendering and was out of the question. He said he was willing to pause the war, but not to end it.

“There’s no hostage deal [yet] because apparently neither side wants one,” said one former Israeli diplomat.

Netanyahu is under enormous pressure.