The plan to invade Rafah is ready. Without an agreement, it will start within three days, Israeli media write

She claims that if an agreement on the release of the hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire is not reached with the Palestinian movement Hamas within 48 to 72 hours, the operation will be launched.

Ynet wrote, without citing a source, that Israeli tanks are lined up on the border between Israel and Gaza near Rafah and are only waiting for the order to launch the problematic ground offensive.

The Israeli government considers this the last necessary step to eradicate the fighting forces of Hamas from the Gaza Strip, which is one of Israel’s main war goals.

Palestinians report dead after airstrikes in Rafah and northern Gaza

Near and Middle East

Meanwhile, the international community, led by the United States, is warning of a humanitarian disaster and the threat of high losses among the civilian population. More than a million refugees are hiding in Rafah from the fighting in more northern areas.

In recent days, tactical battle plans have been completed, which go down to the smallest details, Ynet wrote.

They involve a multi-phase invasion that could be halted or delayed at any time depending on progress in negotiations with Hamas to release the hostages.

Hamas representatives left mediated talks in Cairo on Monday night and will return with a written response to Israel’s latest proposal.

According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, this is extremely generous and, in his opinion, Hamas should quickly accept it.

Israel is preparing to evacuate civilians ahead of at least a six-week operation in Rafah

Near and Middle East

On Monday evening, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Sani, i.e. representatives of the countries that act as mediators in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, about the development in the negotiations.

Israel is waging a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a terrorist attack by this armed group and its allies on October 7 last year, when, according to Israeli authorities, nearly 1,200 people were killed and another 253 kidnapped on the Israeli border.

In the only ceasefire so far, at the end of November, more than a hundred hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel’s massive bombardment of the Gaza Strip and subsequent ground operation has claimed nearly 34,500 Palestinian lives since October, according to Hamas-controlled authorities.