“Last night, IDF (army) troops managed to establish operational control over the Gaza Strip’s side of the (Rafa) crossing,” the army claimed.
“We are currently in operational control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, and special forces are scanning the area for additional terrorist infrastructure or terrorists,” the military noted. “We are only talking about the Gaza Strip’s side of the Rafah crossing.”
The military also said it was currently conducting a “targeted operation” against “very specific targets” in eastern Rafah. According to them, since the beginning of the operation in the eastern part of Rafah, the army has killed 20 attackers.
The Israeli military attacked targets in the eastern city of Rafah late Monday, hours after the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced it would accept a brokered ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas’s statement duly surprised most observers and shattered Israel’s expectations of what might happen in the coming weeks, according to the BBC.
Israel had hoped that Hamas would not accept the truce offer, which the Americans called “exceptionally generous”. Israel had already warned Palestinians to withdraw from the eastern part of the city of Rafah due to an imminent military operation.
The Americans categorically oppose any ground operation in Rafah that poses a threat to civilians. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant explained to his US counterpart that there was no other choice because Hamas had previously rejected all offers of a temporary truce and the release of hostages.
Mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar continued to push for a ceasefire agreement. CIA chief William Burns spent a lot of time in meetings with Qatar’s prime minister in Doha, the capital, which is also the base of Hamas’ political leadership. In the evening, Hamas unexpectedly announced that it would accept the terms of the truce, and Palestinian sources hinted that the terrorist organization might be ready for a long-term truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first public reaction was to say that Hamas was far from meeting Israel’s demands. Nevertheless, he sent a delegation to discuss the ceasefire issue.
According to the BBC, the Prime Minister of Israel was in an unenviable situation at the time. His coalition government depends on the support of Jewish ultra-nationalists, who demand an absolute occupation of Rafah and threaten to overthrow the government if this does not happen, and a truce would mean no attack on Rafah.
In addition, families and supporters of the Israeli hostages are holding protests, blocking major roads, demanding that Israel finally accept the offer and bring those people home.
Americans also want a deal. US President Joe Biden’s support for Israel, even though its military has killed many peaceful Palestinians, is costing him dearly in electoral support in an election year.
Hamas put considerable pressure on Netanyahu. If Mr. Biden forces him to agree to a truce, he will have to choose between preserving the government or the vital support of the US president, which he received after the October 7 attacks.
A cease-fire would also mean that Israel has not won the “absolute victory” that Netanyahu has publicly promised.
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