Israel offers final opportunity for hostage deal before launching offensive in Rafah

Israel has issued a stern warning to Egypt, stating that negotiations for a hostage deal have reached a critical point. The Israeli government has given the talks “one last chance” before proceeding with a long-planned ground offensive on Rafah, located between Gaza and Egypt.

After concluding discussions with a high-level Egyptian delegation on Friday, Israeli officials expressed their determination to move forward with the offensive if a deal is not reached soon. The negotiations also focused on efforts to secure a hostage agreement with Hamas, the militant group in control of Gaza.

An Israeli official, quoted by the Times of Israel, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is the last chance before we go into Rafah…It’s a case of either a deal in the near future, or Rafah.”

Meanwhile, Hamas has confirmed that they are reviewing a new ceasefire proposal from Israel and a potential hostage deal. The group’s official, Khalil al-Hayya, mentioned that they will respond after completing their evaluation.

The escalating tensions in Rafah have raised concerns internationally, with the United States and Egypt expressing worries about the potential consequences of a full-scale Israeli offensive. Despite the opposition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the military’s plan for an operation in Rafah, emphasizing the need to eliminate terrorist threats in the region.

As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches closely to see if a peaceful resolution can be achieved or if conflict will escalate further in the region.