© Seth Harrison/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Tel Aviv) – Reports from the Middle East say that Israeli Defense Forces have begun their ground operation in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. This comes after Reuters reported earlier Hamas had agreed to terms of a proposed ceasefire agreement. Israeli negotiators did not sign off — as the terms of the proposed deal were reportedly “far-reaching” and therefore unacceptable. President Biden had reportedly pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF to avoid the offensive in Rafah.
An Israeli official told Reuters that Hamas agreed to what they call a “softened” Egyptian proposal. Israel says it has made serious concessions towards a cease-fire, and blames Hamas for the ongoing bloodshed.
Negotiators working in Cairo on behalf of Egypt and Qatar put forth the terms of the agreement that Hamas reportedly signed off on. Earlier on Monday, Biden spoke Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and urged renewed talks in a bid to free hostages. On October 7 of last year, Hamas launched terror attacks in Southern Israel, and took hostages.
