Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has approved plans for action in Rafah, a southern city in Gaza, where an estimated 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering. This decision follows a meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet. The approved plans include evacuating the civilian population from Rafah, where many Palestinians have sought refuge after being displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. Additionally, a major military offensive is planned in what Netanyahu has referred to as Hamas's last stronghold.
Details about the specifics of these plans remain scarce. The Israeli military aims to establish humanitarian enclaves in central Gaza to accommodate the displaced Palestinians from Rafah. These enclaves are intended to provide essential resources such as food, shelter, and field hospitals in collaboration with international partners. However, the feasibility of this initiative is yet to be fully outlined.
The United States, through Secretary of State Tony Blinken, has not received the detailed plans from Israel. The feasibility and specifics of the proposed actions will be crucial in determining the next steps for Israel's operation in Rafah.
Concurrently, discussions about a potential ceasefire in Gaza are progressing positively. Hamas has presented a new counter-proposal that includes specific demands regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages. However, the numbers proposed by Hamas exceed what Israeli officials find acceptable, with the Israeli Prime Minister's office labeling the demands as 'ridiculous.'
Despite the existing gaps in negotiations, Israel plans to send a delegation to Doha, Qatar, to further engage in talks aimed at bridging these differences and potentially reaching a ceasefire agreement.
