“The only way to avoid entry into Rafah is to reach an agreement on the hostages.” An Israeli source told the Times of Israel that there is strong international pressure for the operation not to take place. “No one – admitted the source – wants Israel to enter Rafah”. According to the same source, in its counterproposal Israel made “major concessions”, including the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Strip: one of Hamas’ main demands. The Islamic faction will be in Cairo tomorrow and could give its answer.
A senior Hamas official said the group will give its response to Israel’s latest counter-proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza in Egypt on Monday. “A Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Egypt tomorrow and will give the movement’s response to the Israeli proposal during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials,” said the official who wished to remain anonymous.
Gantz, ‘return of the hostages is more important than Rafah’
The return of the Israeli hostages home is more important than the military operation in Rafah. This was said by Benny Gantz, minister of the war cabinet who – responding to the radical right leader Bezalel Smotrich – underlined that “the government would have no right to exist if its members prevented a hostage agreement”. “Entering Rafah – he wrote on X Gantz – is important in our long campaign against Hamas, but the return of the hostages captured on October 7 is of much greater importance”.
Abu Mazen, only the US can stop the attack on Rafah
The Palestinian president, Abu Mazen stated that only the United States at this point can stop the Israeli attack on Rafah, which would constitute “the greatest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people.” “We appeal to the United States of America to ask Israel to stop the operation in Rafah, because America is the only country capable of preventing Israel from committing this crime”, continued Abu Mazen, who is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the World Economic Forum summit. “Israel will enter Rafah in the next few days” added Abu Mazen, quoted by the Israeli media, and reiterated the need “for an end to the fighting and the provision of aid to the Strip”. As part of the Forum, the Palestinian president will meet US Secretary of States Antony Blinken.
UNRWA, ‘Israel prepares large-scale operation in Rafah’
“Israel is preparing a large-scale military operation in the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.” Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), told TASS in an exclusive interview. “My fear right now is what the Israeli army intends to do, regardless of military assistance to Israel from the United States. It seems that there is preparation for a possible large-scale military intervention in Rafah,” he said. said.
IDF approves new war plans ahead of Rafah
Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved “new plans” for the continuation of the war in Gaza, also taking into account the imminent ground operation in Rafah. The army itself made it known. Also present at the meeting was the commander of the IDF’s Southern Front, General Yaron Finkelman.
Media, Hamas delegation expected in Cairo for talks
A Hamas delegation will be in Cairo on Monday 29 April for ceasefire talks. A source from the Islamic faction made it known, quoted by the international media and quoted by Haaretz, according to which the counter-proposal made by Israel to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators for a truce and the release of the hostages should be discussed.
Media, Blinken in Israel will visit Kibbutz Beeri
It is possible that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his next trip to Israel – where he will arrive on Tuesday – will visit the Beeri kibbutz, one of the most hit by Hamas in the October 7 attack, and the Kerem Shalom crossing from where they enter aid for Gaza. Ynet reported it. This – according to the source – is the first time that a high-ranking representative of the American administration has visited the posts. Accompanying Blinken will be Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Hamas, death toll in Gaza rises to 34,454
The Hamas Ministry of Health updated the death toll since October 7 to 34,454, underlining that the wounded have instead risen to 77,575. The count – the ministry specified – includes at least 66 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Meeting of six Arab countries in Riyadh to stop the war in Gaza
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud chaired a meeting in Riyadh with representatives of six Arab countries to discuss the situation in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports. The meeting was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, Egypt’s highest-ranking diplomat Sameh Shoukry, Palestinian Authority official Hussein Al-Sheikh, UAE diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash and Qatari minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi. The group stressed the need to end Israel’s war on Gaza and the importance of recognizing the State of Palestine along the 1967 borders with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital. They also rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians from their lands and any military operation in Rafah.
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