Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced on Monday {that a} date has been set for an Israeli army operation in Rafah. He thus elevated stress on Hamas negotiators after the US submitted a brand new ceasefire proposal in Cairo.
“This victory requires getting into Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This can occur. There’s a date,” Netanyahu stated, with out giving any particulars.
Why it issues: Netanyahu’s announcement got here after the US redoubled stress on all events to advertise oblique negotiations in Cairo between Israel and Hamas in hopes of reaching a ceasefire.
CIA Director Invoice Burns submitted the brand new proposal on Sunday, White Home Nationwide Safety Council Strategic Coordinator John Kirby confirmed to reporters on Monday. Washington is now ready for the Palestinian militant group’s response, which U.S. officers count on within the coming days.
President Joe Biden despatched letters to the Egyptian president and the emir of Qatar, urging them to stress Hamas to just accept the deal, Kirby confirmed, including that Burns had returned from Cairo. Hamas negotiators had additionally left and are anticipated to return inside two days, Egypt’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera information reported.
Reuters on Monday quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying the Cairo talks had didn’t make any progress and accused the Israeli facet of “no change” in its place.
The context: Netanyahu’s message got here a day after the Israeli military stated on Sunday it had withdrawn the 98th Division from southern Gaza to arrange it for future operations. The withdrawal of the 98th, which led the combat in opposition to Hamas in Khan Younis, left no vital Israeli maneuvering pressure in southern Gaza, the Israeli press reported.
Nonetheless, Israeli forces remained in different elements of the Gaza Strip, which might mark the start of a shift towards extra exact focused operations. Biden administration officers have lengthy pressured their Israeli counterparts to undertake it.
U.S. officers have stated they count on Israel won’t proceed with a army floor incursion into Rafah till the Israeli authorities presents a sensible plan to guard the greater than 1.4 million Palestinian civilians sheltering there.
Netanyahu’s prime adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer are anticipated to current a proper Israeli operational plan to US officers in Washington, after the prime minister initially canceled their deliberate go to late final month.
However greater than two weeks after Netanyahu’s workplace stated the delegation was again in attendance, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh couldn’t affirm a agency date on Monday.
Regardless of American opposition to a serious Israeli floor invasion of Rafah, Netanyahu confirmed final month that there’s “no different method” to destroy some 4 battalions of Hamas fighters that the IDF believes are nonetheless in densely populated Rafah.
What’s subsequent: Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin will communicate this week together with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, Singh stated Monday.
The Pentagon is watching intently for indicators that Iran and the militias it backs within the Center East could also be making ready to retaliate in opposition to Israel for Israeli airstrikes that killed seven senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers in Damascus final week.
Iranian Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei has vowed to punish Israel for the assaults. Throughout a go to to Damascus on Monday, Iranian Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian accused the US of giving Israel a “inexperienced mild” for the Israeli operation.
“I wish to say from right here in Damascus in a really loud voice that America has a duty for what occurred and have to be held accountable,” Amir-Abdollahian informed AP Information.
The Biden administration publicly denied any involvement and prior information of the Israeli assault and privately communicated that message to Iranian officers within the aftermath, Singh stated final week.
U.S. officers informed Al-Monitor late final week that they count on an Iranian retaliation for the Israeli assault within the coming days, however stated they weren’t monitoring particular threats to U.S. troops or personnel.
“Not solely our troops, but additionally our diplomatic workers in Iraq and Syria are beneath fixed risk,” Kirby stated Monday.
“We’re taking the suitable measures to guard the troops… because the risk adjustments, to make sure they’ll defend themselves,” he added.
Understanding extra: State Division spokesman Matthew Miller on Monday flatly denied claims that Iran informed the US it could abandon promised retaliation in opposition to Israel if Washington reached a ceasefire in Gaza.
“If Iran desires a ceasefire in Gaza, then it should do every thing it may possibly to stress Hamas to just accept the deal that’s on the desk – to just accept the proposal that this weekend has worn off,” Kirby stated. reporters.
“If that is what they actually need… they’ll lean on Hamas. That may be the most effective consequence,” he stated.
