According to media reports, Israel views the ongoing attempts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage deal in the Gaza conflict as a final opportunity before launching an attack on the city of Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Progress has been made in Gaza ceasefire discussions between the Egyptian and Israeli delegations in Tel Aviv. According to the Egyptian news outlet Al-Qahera News, there has been noticeable progress in bringing the views of the two delegations closer together regarding a truce in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier on Friday, an Egyptian security delegation arrived in Tel Aviv to discuss an Egyptian proposal for a comprehensive framework aimed at achieving the long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza.
Late on Friday evening, the Times of Israel cited reports indicating that significant progress had been achieved in all aspects of the ongoing talks. Earlier, the Egyptian state-affiliated television channel Al-Qahira News had also highlighted substantial advancements.
According to an Israeli official, Israel is determined not to let Hamas, particularly its leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya al-Sinwar, stall a hostage agreement that could hinder the planned military operation in Rafah. Recently, the army has called up two additional reserve brigades.
“This is the last chance before we go to Rafah,” the Times of Israel quoted the unnamed Israeli government official as saying. “It’s either an agreement in the future or Rafah.”
Yahya al-Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, is believed to have orchestrated the deadly attack in Israel on October 7 last year. During this incident, approximately 1,200 Israeli soldiers and civilians lost their lives, and more than 200 individuals were taken captive and transported to Gaza. Israeli authorities suspect that al-Sinwar is currently hiding in tunnels beneath Rafah.
Israel aims to dismantle the remaining Hamas battalions in the southern Gaza town bordering Egypt. Reports from Israeli media indicate that Egypt is actively seeking an agreement to prevent an attack on Rafah. Egypt’s primary concern is the potential influx of a large number of Palestinians across the border.
Over a million civilians have escaped the conflict in other parts of the Gaza Strip and sought safety in Rafah.
Recent discussions between Egyptian and Israeli officials, as reported by Israeli media, initially aimed to negotiate a partial agreement with Hamas. Under this proposal, only certain categories of hostages—such as females, the elderly, and the sick—would be released. However, Hamas declined a US suggestion to release 40 such abductees.
Based on their assessment, there are few remaining hostages who fit these specific categories. Meanwhile, Hamas is advocating for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, a proposal that Israel’s government opposes.
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