Israel approves plan to attack Rafah but keeps truce hopes alive
(VOVWORLD) - Israel on Friday approved a potential assault on the Gaza city of Rafah while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive with plans to send another delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible hostage deal with Islamist militant group Hamas.
 A humanitarian aid ship carrying 200 tonnes approaches the coast of the Gaza Strip. (EPA PHOTO) |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had ok'd a plan to attack the city on the southern edge of the shattered Palestinian enclave where more than half of its 2.3 million residents are sheltering.
Global allies and critics have urged Netanyahu to hold off attacking Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. But Israel says it is one of the last strongholds of Hamas whom it has pledged to eliminate and that residents will be evacuated.
Hamas has presented a Gaza ceasefire proposal to mediators and the US which includes release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners.
A statement from Netanyahu's office on the Rafah attack plan said Hamas' demands for the release of hostages remained unrealistic, but an Israeli delegation would still head to Doha once the security cabinet had discussed its position.