Israeli Official Announces Continuation of Rafah Operation as Gaza Truce Negotiations Break Down

The Israeli army will continue its operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah “as planned,” after the talks on the Israel-Hamas truce held in Egypt’s Cairo collapsed, an Israeli official told the media.

According to a report from Xinhua news agency, mass Israeli troops are stationed on the border with Rafah, indicating a significant military presence in the area.

The unnamed Israeli official confirmed on Thursday that the Israeli delegation has left Cairo after talks with Hamas, the US, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators on a deal to end the hostilities and secure the release of hostages in Gaza.

There are concerns about the potential expansion of the offensive to more areas in Rafah, where about 1.2 million internally displaced Palestinians are currently seeking refuge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet is set to meet to discuss the continuation of the Rafah operation, amidst growing international scrutiny.

In response to US President Joe Biden’s decision to pause some shipments of weapons to Israel if it deepens its assault on Rafah city, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assured that they have enough armaments to continue operations in Gaza.

“The IDF has what it needs for the operations it is planning, including the operation in Rafah,” said IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari in a statement.

Despite the tensions and disagreements, Hagari emphasized the strong security assistance provided by the US to Israel and the IDF.