Gaza Strip evacuations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a ground offensive in Rafah is imminent, though no specific timing was provided. He emphasized the necessity of entering Rafah for a decisive victory over Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas indicated dissatisfaction with an Israeli proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

Efforts to broker a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have shown signs of progress, with Egypt reporting advancements in negotiations between the two sides. However, the Israeli army has issued a cautionary statement, emphasizing that the withdrawal from the city of Khan Younis does not mark the end of military operations in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to launching a ground invasion of Rafah, despite reservations expressed by US President Joe Biden. Netanyahu emphasized to Israeli lawmakers that they are resolute in their mission to eradicate Hamas forces in Rafah and see no alternative to achieving this goal without a ground operation.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has announced that the Israeli army has begun its aggression on Rafah and launched airstrikes in the southern Gaza city without any prior notice or "waiting for permission from anyone."

Israel's military proposed a plan for evacuating civilians from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced Monday, after he said a ground invasion of the Palestinian territory's southern city Rafah was necessary for "total victory".

Israel launched a new wave of deadly strikes on southern Gaza Thursday after vowing to push ahead with a "powerful" operation in the overcrowded city of Rafah despite growing international condemnation.

There are one million and 400 thousand internally displaced Palestinians in Rafah.
"We call on Israel to stop military operations as soon as possible, do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, according to Al Jazeera.

Egypt's foreign ministry on Monday condemned as "disgraceful" and "irresponsible" comments by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who claimed Cairo has "considerable responsibility" for Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.

Jordan's King Abdullah II appealed for a full ceasefire to end the Gaza war after talks with Joe Biden, striking a discordant note with the U.S. president who is seeking a shorter six-week pause to give Israel time to defeat Hamas.

Hamas warned Israel on Sunday that a ground offensive in Rafah, crowded with displaced Gazans, would imperil future hostage releases, as the Hamas-run territory's health ministry said at least 52 people were killed in heavy air strikes before dawn on Monday.

The strikes hit 14 houses and three mosques in different parts of Rafah, according to the Hamas government.