Israel-Gaza war: Hamas says ceasefire efforts back at square one
- The militants blamed Israel for effectively rejecting a deal proposed by mediators through the amendments it made
- The White House is watching Israeli operations in Rafah ‘with concern’, but says they do not reflect a large-scale invasion
The Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Friday that efforts to find a Gaza Strip truce deal were back at square one after Israel effectively spurned a plan from international mediators, and the White House said it was trying to keep the sides engaged “if only virtually”.
Hamas said in a statement it would consult other Palestinian factions on its strategy for talks to halt seven months of war triggered by its deadly October 7 attack on Israel.
Hours earlier, the United Nations warned that aid for Gaza could grind to a halt in days after Israel seized control this week of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a vital route for supplies to the devastated Palestinian enclave.
Despite heavy US pressure, Israel has said it will proceed with an assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1 million displaced people have sought refuge and Israeli forces say Hamas militants are dug in.
Israeli tanks captured the main road dividing the eastern and western sections of Rafah on Friday, effectively encircling the eastern part of the city in an assault that has caused Washington to hold up delivery of some military aid to its ally.