TEL AVIV: The escalating tensions in Gaza, Israel has issued a warning to launch an offensive in Rafah by the start of Ramadan if Hamas fails to return remaining hostages, despite international appeals for de-escalation.
The threat has raised concerns about the safety of Palestinian civilians, particularly those sheltering in the southern city.
Israeli authorities justify their planned offensive, citing Rafah as the last stronghold of Hamas in Gaza. However, the city is also home to a significant portion of the displaced Palestinian population, facing dire living conditions in makeshift shelters lacking essential resources.
In response to international pressure, Israel asserts that the offensive will be conducted in coordination with American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties. Nevertheless, the fate of Palestinians displaced by the conflict remains uncertain, with limited safe havens available.
Efforts to negotiate a truce-for-hostages deal have thus far been unsuccessful, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissing Hamas’s demands as unrealistic. The situation is further complicated by ongoing legal proceedings at the UN’s top court regarding Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Despite mounting diplomatic efforts, including a proposed UN draft resolution for an immediate ceasefire, prospects for a peaceful resolution remain uncertain. Western governments advocate for the recognition of a Palestinian state as part of broader peace initiatives, but Israel remains steadfast in its rejection of such recognition.
Meanwhile, Hamas threatens to suspend its involvement in ceasefire negotiations unless relief supplies reach Gaza’s north, where aid agencies warn of a looming humanitarian crisis. Access to essential resources, including food and clean water, remains severely restricted, exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
The deteriorating situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for international cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis and facilitate a lasting ceasefire. However, with tensions escalating and diplomatic efforts stalling, the prospects for peace remain elusive in the region.
Around 250 hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 28,985 people, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
