Falcon powers – Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gantz, informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, of the commencement of a military operation in Rafah.
According to the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, Gantz conveyed to Austin in a phone call that Hamas rejected all proposals, and therefore, the military operation in Rafah would begin, as claimed by Gantz.
In response, Israeli Finance Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, stated, “The delay in entering Rafah and failing to control strategic assets in the Gaza Strip is detrimental to us and our war goals.”
He alleged that “the delay in entering Rafah hinders the opportunity to retrieve the abductees and costs us a great deal of bloodshed.”
He emphasized that the Israeli army must enter Rafah today.
Yesterday evening, the Israeli military requested residents of the eastern areas of Rafah to evacuate towards the area extending from Khan Yunis to the north of Deir al-Balah.
Hamas demands an agreement that includes an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, but Israel rejects that.
It is scheduled for the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, to travel to Israel today to continue negotiations.
