Israel considers the Cairo negotiations over - Going ahead with operations in Rafah

Israel presented its reservations to the mediators regarding the Gaza ceasefire proposal by Hamas and considers this round of negotiations in Cairo concluded, as stated by a senior Israeli official on Thursday (9/5). The Israeli delegation is already returning from the Egyptian capital, and Israel will proceed with its operations in Rafah and other areas of the Gaza Strip as planned. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to disregard yesterday’s warning from U.S. President Joe Biden that the U.S. would halt certain arms supplies to Israel if it attacks Rafah.

As he stated, his country is ready to stand alone if necessary. “I’ve said it before, if necessary, we will fight tooth and nail,” Netanyahu declared. “But we have much more than just our nails, and with this spiritual strength, with God’s help, we will prevail,” he added. Earlier on Thursday, Hamas had announced that its delegation had left Cairo, where talks were being held for a ceasefire in Gaza, and was en route to Doha, Qatar.

According to Al Jazeera, in a statement, Hamas stated that Israel’s incursion into Rafah and the occupation of the area’s border crossing aimed to obstruct the efforts of the mediators and escalate the war. It also reiterated its “commitment and dedication” to the current ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, the Egyptian media outlet Al-Qahera News, affiliated with Egypt’s intelligence services, also reported that representatives of Hamas and Israel had left Cairo. Egypt’s efforts and those of other mediators, such as Qatar and the US, “continue in order to reach some convergence in the views of the two parties,” added Al-Qahera News, citing a senior Egyptian official. “Israel will ‘stand alone’ if necessary,” Netanyahu says At the same time in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu sent his own message to Joe Biden, who has chosen to suspend some arms deliveries to Israel.

UN: 80,000 people have left Rafah

In another development, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees announced today that approximately 80,000 people have fled Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, since May 6, when Israel ordered Palestinians living in the eastern part of the city to evacuate. “Since Israeli forces intensified their operations on May 6, around 80,000 people have left Rafah, seeking shelter elsewhere; the toll these families are paying is unbearable,” UNRWA stated in X, clarifying that “no place is safe” in the Gaza Strip.

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