Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has emphasized that plans for a massive attack on the Gazan city of Rafah will be suspended once an agreement is reached with Hamas to release the hostages it holds. In an interview with Channel 12 of Israeli television, Katz stated that the importance of releasing the hostages cannot be overstated and confirmed that the operation would be suspended if an agreement is reached.
Official Israeli sources have reported that a new offer has been presented to Hamas as a final opportunity to accept a ceasefire. Otherwise, the Israeli Army will launch a major offensive on the city of Rafah. Talks with Hamas, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have shown progress, but the seriousness of the situation is emphasized by Israeli officials.
There is disagreement within the Israeli war cabinet on this issue. While some ministers threaten to resign if the Rafah offensive is canceled, others emphasize the importance of reaching an agreement with Hamas. The Israeli Army believes that the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is hiding in Rafah, making it a crucial target for the operation.
Overall, negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain tense as both sides continue to push for their respective goals. While releasing hostages remains a key issue for Israel and its allies, it remains uncertain whether an agreement will be reached before tensions escalate further or before another major military action takes place in Gaza.
