RAFAH: Israeli forces bombarded Rafah in the southern part of Gaza on Saturday with tanks and artillery, a few hours after US President Joe Biden announced that Israel had put forward a new roadmap towards full ceasefire.
Despite Biden’s announcement, the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, maintained that his country would still fight until it achieved all its goals.
He reiterated this point on Saturday by saying “Israel’s requirements for ending the war remain unaltered: total eradication of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities; freeing all prisoners and ensuring Gaza can no longer pose any danger to Israel.”
According to him, a permanent ceasefire without meeting those conditions is not possible.
On the other hand, Hamas said it is “positively evaluating” the plan presented by Biden.
In his first major speech outlining an end to the conflict, he stated that over six weeks Israel would withdraw its forces from highly populated areas of Gaza as phase one of their three-stage offer.
This will include “the release of some hostages such as women,” elderly ones including wounded persons as well as hundreds of Palestinian inmates.”
During this six week period according to Biden; however talks are still ongoing there will be a truce agreement between both sides.
The American leader called upon Hamas to accept such an offer from Israelis. He said during his speech; “It’s time for this war to end, fro day after should begin,” which was echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
—Israel insists on war aims—
US Secretary-General Antony Blinken last week called up Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and Saudi Arabia’s Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud about these negotiations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric also confirmed this latest development ‘is expected to lead into peace that has always been our longing.’ He added that Guterres “strongly hopes” the recent progress “will lead to an agreement by the parties for lasting peace.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called it a “sign of hope” and a potential way out of the impasse while EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commended a “balanced, realistic approach”.
In addition, Saudi Arabia stressed its “support for all efforts aimed at an immediate ceasefire” and withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Indonesia said on Saturday that it was ready to send as many as 25,000 peacekeeping personnel and medical staffs to Gaza if there was agreement on a ceasefire.
But Netanyahu contradicted Biden’s view of what is on offer saying yesterday that in this proposed roadmap, moving from one stage to another is not automatic or unconditional but rather depends on Israel’s war aims being met.
The Prime Minister authorized his negotiators last Friday to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), but insisted that the war could not stop until all its goals have been achieved,” according to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office.
“It allows Israel to keep these principles precisely because they are conditional.”
Since October 7 when Palestinian gunmen attacked southern Israel, the Jewish state has repeatedly vowed to destroy Hamas.
– Intense shelling –
At the beginning of May, Israel sent tanks and troops into Rafah, paying no attention concerns about displaced Palestinians’ safety trapped amid shelling in the city near Egypt.
Saturday was marked by the report of tank fire in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, Rafah west, and intense artillery shelling in other parts of Rafah.
“From early that night till now, there has not been a single pause in aerial and artillery attacks”, said an anonymous resident from West Rafah to AFP.
The situation is very dangerous because they are watching out at the areas surrounding them,” a resident added.
According to an AFP reporter, there was also shelling and gunfire from Israeli army on Gaza City towards Northern Palestine region.
The United Nations had earlier indicated that about 1.4 million people were taking refuge in the city before the beginning of attack in Rafah.
“One million people have moved away since then;” UNRWA; UN agency for Palestinian refugees showed.
The seizure of Rafah crossing by Israel has further complicated efforts to deliver sporadic aid to Gaza’s 2.4m people and effectively served as shutting down main exit point for this territory.
“Everything is ashes”
Israel announced last week that it had stepped up its supply of aid goods into Gaza
Blinken admitted yesterday that despite American efforts to bring more assistance, “the humanitarian situation is dire.”
Since Israel launched its attack on Rafah early this month, life in southern parts of Gaza Strip has turned “apocalyptic”, says World Food Programme (WFP).
Following Hamas’ unprecedented October 7th attack on southern Israel which left 1189 people dead mainly civilians according to Israeli official figures compiled by AFP news agency
Hamas has taken 252 hostages; currently 121 remain in Gaza including 37 whom army reports were killed
According to health ministry officials from Hamas run territory over 36379 Palestinians including mostly civilians have perished during retaliatory offensive led by Israel’s forces
Northern Gaza residents said that after three weeks operation within Jabali town and refugee camps near it troops ordered people living next door Beit Hanun to leave their homes as an imminent offensive was expected.
“Troops completed their mission in the eastern part of Jabalia and are getting ready for further operations on other parts of Gaza strip”, informed Israel army.
For an Israeli operation, there was nothing left at his shop according to a shopkeeper from Jabali called Belal al-Kahlot. “Everything is ashes”.
With two Israeli soldiers having died in Gaza, the military said 294 troops had been killed since ground operations began late October.
