Gaza’s Rafah border crossing is closed. The Israeli army says it has taken “operational control” of the part of the border crossing on the Gaza side.
– Right now, the special forces are investigating the border crossing point. We are exercising operational surveillance in the area, the army said, according to news agency AFP.
According to Reuters sources, humanitarian aid passing through the border crossing to Gaza has been suspended. The city of Rafah has packed a lot of internal refugees from Gaza, who have sought refuge in the city from military operations.
In addition, Israel says that the Kerem Shalom border crossing is closed for security reasons, and says that it will reopen “when the security situation permits”.
Israel has long been expected to launch a ground attack on the city of Rafah. It is not yet clear how large-scale the operation is currently underway.
The Israeli Armed Forces shared a video from the scene on the messaging service X, where the tanks are driving to the border crossing. The video also shows an Israeli flag erected at the site.
During the night, airstrikes killed at least five people
Israel’s overnight airstrikes in Rafah have killed at least five people, a local hospital said early Tuesday. In addition, it is said that several people injured in the attacks were brought to the hospital.
According to Qatari media al-Jazeera, residential buildings in the eastern parts of Rafah were under continuous shelling late Monday, and the majority of people had begun to flee the area. Israel has said it is preparing a ground operation with airstrikes.
In addition, the military wing of the extremist organization Islamic Jihad said late Monday that its fighters fired rockets from Gaza towards the southern parts of Israel. The rocket attacks were a response to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
The group said it targeted Sderot and Nir Am, as well as settlements near the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli Armed Forces, air strikes have sounded in communities near the Gaza Strip.
Israel has a negative attitude to the proposal
Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the ground attack on Rafah could not be tolerated because of its devastating humanitarian consequences. In addition, he estimated that a possible attack by Israel would have destabilizing effects in the region.
Guterres called for stronger efforts from Israel and the extremist organization Hamas, in order to reach a truce agreement between the parties. According to Guterres, the opportunity to reach an armistice agreement should not be wasted.
Hamas said on Monday that it accepts the ceasefire proposal made by mediators to end the fighting in Gaza.
According to the Israeli media, the Israeli government would not accept the proposal. However, the country’s war cabinet decided to send a delegation to meet with mediators. In a statement, however, it said the proposal accepted by Hamas fell far short of Israel’s demands.
Fighting in Gaza has continued for almost seven months. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, Israel has killed more than 34,700 people in Gaza, most of whom have been women and children. According to the UN, more than 70 percent of Gaza’s residential buildings have been destroyed.
Treaty proposal: End of hostilities and blockade
Al-Jazeera has seen the deal approved by Hamas. According to it, the proposal would include three phases, each of which would last six weeks.
The truce would begin with the first phase and a temporary cessation of hostilities. At this point, Israeli forces would also withdraw to the east, away from the more densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip and towards the border between Israel and Gaza. The first phase would also include prisoner exchanges.
The withdrawal of Israeli forces would also allow Palestinian civilians to begin returning to their homes.
In the second phase of the agreement, hostilities would cease permanently and Israel would completely withdraw from Gaza. In addition, another exchange of prisoners would be carried out. In the third phase, the rest of the hostages in Gaza and the Palestinian prisoners on the Israeli side would be released. This phase would also include a 3-5 year Gaza reconstruction plan and the end of the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
A spokesperson for the Israeli Armed Forces interviewed by CNN of Daniel Hagar according to which Israel will continue its operations in Gaza regardless of Hamas’s acceptance of the truce proposal. In the very evening, Israel carried out numerous airstrikes on Rafah, despite international opposition. Israel justified that it was preparing the ground operation in Rafah with strikes.
Biden warned Netanyahu about Rafah
Israel’s key ally, the United States, has said it will review Hamas’s response to a possible cease-fire.
President of the United States Joe Biden warned the Israeli Prime Minister on Monday Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel should not attack Rafah. In April, Biden had told Netanyahu that attacking Rafah would be a mistake.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Israel has yet to come up with a credible plan to protect civilians at risk and that without a plan the US will not support a major military operation in Rafah.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Matthew Miller also said on Monday that the United States has yet to see a humanitarian plan that is credible and feasible.
“We believe that a military operation in Rafah right now would dramatically increase Palestinian suffering and lead to an increase in civilian deaths,” Miller told reporters.
Also the King of Jordan Abdullah asked President Biden during talks on Monday to intervene in Israel’s intentions in Rafah in order to avoid “another massacre”.
The news is updated.
The story was updated on May 7 at 9:06 a.m.: Added the Israeli army’s confirmation of the takeover of the border crossing, also added aam’s interview video.