Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, Israel has issued a stern warning regarding its ongoing conflict with Hamas, suggesting that ongoing negotiations to secure a hostage deal have a 'last chance' before a ground offensive is launched.
This offensive would target Rafah, a critical area between Gaza and Egypt that hosts several refugee camps, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Negotiations between Israeli officials and an Egyptian delegation to discuss Israel's planned ground offensive in Rafah and efforts to secure a hostage agreement with Hamas concluded on Friday. Israel warned that these negotiations represent the final opportunity for a truce before Israel begins its long-planned assault.
According to senior Israeli officials, the discussions with the Egyptian delegation were productive, with positive outcomes and a focused approach, indicating a potential breakthrough. However, in the background, Israel's intentions to proceed with a ground offensive in Rafah were clear, pressuring the Egyptians to push Hamas for a settlement.
The Egyptian delegation is in Israel to facilitate long-stalled talks aiming to free hostages and establish a ceasefire in Gaza. However, disagreements between Israel and Hamas on key objectives have impeded progress, even after several months of mediation by Qatar and Egypt.
Egypt is concerned about the potential consequences of a full-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah, a location where about a million Palestinians have sought refuge amid the conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously approved a military plan for operations in Rafah, indicating a strong intention to proceed with significant military action in the area. However, this intention has faced international opposition, particularly from the United States. A recent video conference between American and Israeli officials aimed to de-escalate the situation, but it was reportedly characterized by tense relations and conflicting perspectives.
Despite international concerns, Netanyahu maintained that there could be no victory without a comprehensive operation in Rafah, emphasizing that Israel's ultimate goal is to secure the release of all hostages and achieve a decisive victory over Hamas.
