The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, is said to have approved final plans for military action in southern Gaza, Rafah, and in the refugee camps in the center of the Strip you can read about timesofisrael.com. In next 48-72 hours or there will be a hostage agreement or the invasion will begin according to the Ynet news site which however does not cite any sources.
THE Israeli tanks would be deployed on the border with Gaza and ready to receive the green light to begin the controversial offensive, seen by Israel as the last push needed to eradicate Hamas fighting forces from the Strip, despite warnings of a humanitarian disaster if civilians are not removed from danger.
The plan for Rafah
Tactical plans that get to the heart of the fighting have been completed in recent days, Ynet reports. They include a phased invasion that can be stopped or delayed if hostage talks make progress.
Hamas leaves Egypt, will return with response to ceasefire proposal
Meanwhile, the Hamas delegation, in Egypt for talks on the ceasefire in Gaza, has left Cairo. This was announced by Egyptian TV Al Qahera, adding that the representatives of the Palestinian group will return with a response on the proposals received. A senior Hamas official told Saudi television channel Asharq News that “there is a different atmosphere and different conditions this time.”
Hamas has been offered a 40-day ceasefire and the release of “potentially” thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages still in Gaza, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said during a briefing. World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh. The Palestinian organization was made “a very generous offer of an extended 40-day ceasefire, the release of potentially thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of these hostages,” Cameron said.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, meanwhile said he was “confident” regarding the new truce proposal. “The proposal took into account the positions of both sides and tried to achieve moderation,” Shoukry said, as a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for talks. An Israeli delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo today for further hostage talks.
