Israeli forces seize Gaza side of Rafah crossing, putting ceasefire talks with Hamas on knife’s edge
- Israeli troops seize crossing after receiving intelligence it was used for ‘terrorist purposes’
- Israel wants to use military operation in Rafah to smash remaining battalions of Hamas
An Israeli tank brigade seized control on Tuesday of the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as Israel moved forward with an offensive in the southern city, even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remain on a knife’s edge.
The development came after hours of whiplash in the Israel-Gaza war, with the militant group on Monday saying it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated ceasefire proposal. Israel, meanwhile, insisted the deal did not meet its core demands.
The high-stakes diplomatic moves and military brinkmanship left a glimmer of hope alive – if only barely – for an accord that could bring at least a pause in the seven-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli incursion overnight appeared to be short of the full-fledged offensive into Rafah that Israel has planned, and it was not immediately known if it would be expanded.
US President Joe Biden on Monday urgently warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city, hiking pressure for a ceasefire.
On Tuesday, China expressed “grave concern over Israel’s planned launch of a ground military operation against Rafah”.