Israel bombs Rafah: “Our requests not met”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement. Israel does not accept the ceasefire proposal with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar supported by Hamas

ROME – The government of Israelhas decided to move forward with the offensive against Rafahclaiming thatthe ceasefire proposal supported today by Hamas does not accept “essential requests” from Tel Aviv: this was announced by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement relaunched by the Times of Israel and other newspapers it is reported that operations in the area at the southern end of the Gaza Strip will continue with the aim of “exerting pressure on Hamas”, in order to to“obtain progress towards the release of the hostages and the achievement of other war aims“.

“OBJECTIVE AGREEMENT ON ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS”

The prime minister’s office added that Israel will nevertheless sendits delegates to Cairo for talks with mediators. The intent would be “to exhaust the possibilities to obtain an agreement on acceptable terms” for Tel Aviv. Also in the evening, the Israeli armed forces announced that they were engaged in incursions and bombings in the eastern part of Rafah. According to this version, the raids are “targeted” and intend to hit Hamas bases and fighters. Over a million people have concentrated in the Rafah area, mostly already forced to flee from the bombings started by Tel Aviv on Gaza on 7 October.