What happened?

  • A renewed push for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza was underway, with the United States, Qatar, and other countries working to broker a deal, while Hamas wanted the agreement to include an end to the war.

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch an invasion into the southern Gaza Strip, including the refugee-dense city of Rafah, despite a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas.

  • The agreement aims to release hostages, provide relief to Gaza, and prevent an offensive in Rafah, but Israel still aims to destroy Hamas’ military capacity in the area, and Netanyahu states that Israel will enter Rafah to destroy Hamas battalions, with or without a truce.

What is international media saying:

  • The U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have pushed for a ceasefire deal to prevent an assault on Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians seek refuge, but Netanyahu states that military action will proceed with or without a deal to destroy Hamas. (The Washington Times, Los Angeles Times, TASS, The Guardian, Politico)

  • A coalition of nearly 50 humanitarian organizations sent a letter to the White House condemning a potential Rafah invasion, saying no credible humanitarian plan is feasible. (Politico)

  • The Biden administration advised against entering Rafah without a plan to prevent civilian casualties, given the high number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza. (The Hill, Politico)

  • Netanyahu’s statements came before a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is in Israel for truce discussions. (The Hill)

What is Arab media saying:

  • The UN humanitarian chief warns that an Israeli ground operation in Rafah, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, would be a tragedy beyond words. (Arab News)

  • Benjamin Netanyahu plans to attack Rafah in southern Gaza regardless of ceasefire with Hamas, despite the French foreign minister’s advice against an Israeli offensive due to humanitarian concerns. (Al Jazeera Balkans, Arab News)

  • Finance Minister Smotrich stated, “There are no half measures,” and mentioned total annihilation of Rafah, Deir Al-Balah, and Nuseirat, quoting Deuteronomy to ‘blot out the remembrance of Amalek’. (The New Arab)

What is Israeli media saying:

  • The United States has not seen a credible Israeli plan for a military operation in southern Gaza, and an Israeli offensive in Rafah would not resolve anything in the country’s fight against Hamas. (The Jerusalem Post)

  • Far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir are pressing Prime Minister Netanyahu for a Rafah invasion, and have threatened to leave the government if he cancels the invasion as part of a hostage deal. (The Jerusalem Post)

  • Mosab Hassan Yousef. son of Hamas leader, defended the need for a Rafah operation to defeat Hamas, while the State Department, France’s foreign minister, and the UN aid chief expressed concerns about the lack of a credible plan and potential humanitarian issues. (The Jerusalem Post)

Sources: