As international endeavors continue to reach a truce between Israel and the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces announced today, Friday, their full surrounding the city of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip from all sides.
Israel announced its control of the “Morag axis”, a new military road that was recently established to link Khan Yunis and Rafah, noting that this axis bears the name of a previous Israeli settlement that was evacuated in 2005. This development is part of the Israeli control plan of the southern region of the Strip.
Shelling on Khan Yunis and an escalation in operations
In conjunction with the progress of the Israeli forces in Rafah, warplanes launched raids on the West Khan Yunis area. Israeli radio stated that the army intends to continue its military operations in Rafah and link them to the buffer areas being established on the outskirts of Gaza.
Positive signs in negotiations
On the level of political efforts, some statements carried signs to improve in the atmosphere of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Israeli sources revealed the exchange of drafts between Cairo and Tel Aviv about the Egyptian proposal on Gaza, and the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation stated that there is a real possibility to make progress in the talks.
Trump waved a progress in the prisoner deal
In the same context, US President Donald Trump alluded to the approach of reaching a deal to release Israeli prisoners in Gaza. He said that his country is in contact with Israel and regional brokers in this regard.
The US President’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkeov, also confirmed that an agreement with Hamas may be reached within days only.
The collapse of the armistice and the continuation of operations
Despite the continued international mediations, the Israeli army continues its air and land attacks, as part of a plan aimed at establishing buffer areas in the north and south of Gaza.
A truce was concluded between Hamas and Israel last January, and it lasted until mid -March before it collapsed. This truce led to the release of 33 Israeli prisoners, including 8 who were later killed, in exchange for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
And 58 Israelis are still detained in Gaza, including 34, Israel says they were killed.
