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 strong military presence in the area.
The unnamed Israeli official confirmed that the Israeli delegation has left Cairo following the breakdown of talks with Hamas, the US, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators. The discussions were aimed at reaching a deal to end hostilities and secure the release of hostages in Gaza.
There is speculation on whether Israel will expand its offensive to more areas in Rafah, where a significant number of internally displaced Palestinians are seeking refuge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet is set to convene to discuss the continuation of the Rafah operation, amidst growing international concern over the escalating violence.
In response to US President Joe Biden’s decision to pause some shipments of weapons to Israel if the assault on Rafah intensifies, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assured that they have enough armaments to sustain their operations.
“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. He emphasized the strong security assistance provided by the US to Israel, even in times of disagreement.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the situation in Rafah remains precarious, with the possibility of further escalation looming large.