WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden again urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as Israel on Monday appeared to be moving closer to a major military operation to root out Hamas militants.
But soon after Israel announced that it was ordering about 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah, Hamas said in a statement it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a cease-fire to halt the seven-month-long war with Israel in Gaza.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel will continue its operations in Gaza as officials deliberate the cease-fire proposal approved by Hamas. And the Israeli War Cabinet voted unanimously to approve a Rafah military operation but will continue cease-fire efforts.
The Israeli military also said it was conducting “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah. The nature of the strikes was not immediately known, but the move appeared aimed at keeping the pressure on as talks continue.
Twyla Tharp dance will open 700
How to tell if you have the sleep disorder that even doctors don't know about
Jessi Campbell: Little girl's brave battle after being born with 1kg cyst on her arm
Enjoy last night's solar eclipse? How to tell if it could have PERMANENTLY damaged your eyes
Turkey says it has carried out new airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq
The Aucklanders who refuse to use food scrap bins
Ruapehu Alpine Lifts gets $7m bailout from government
Travellers share snaps of the worst behaved flight passengers
Macron sets Ukraine war as top priority as China's Xi Jinping arrives in France
The Elle Woods effect: Good looking lawyers have more success in court, study finds
John Swinney is crowned as SNP leader
In China, latest Minions movie gets a new ending that promotes rule of law