The Israeli war cabinet decided unanimously on Monday evening to continue the military operation in Rafah, which is overcrowded with Palestinian displaced persons, following Hamas's announcement accepting the Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal. The cabinet stated: "The war cabinet has decided unanimously that Israel will continue its operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas to enhance the release of our hostages and achieve other war objectives."
It added: "Although Hamas's proposal is far from Israel's necessary requirements, Israel will send a delegation of mediators to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel."
Meanwhile, an Israeli army statement indicated that "the Israel Defense Forces are currently attacking and conducting operations against the terrorist organization Hamas in a targeted manner in the eastern Rafah area." Palestinian media reported that Israeli aircraft are conducting heavy bombardments and airstrikes east of Rafah city.
In addition, Channel 14 reported that the Israeli army is carrying out intense attacks in Rafah, coinciding with the entry of ground forces into the eastern part of the city, shortly after Hamas agreed to the ceasefire proposal. The Israeli army reiterated its call on the residents of eastern Rafah neighborhoods in the southern Gaza Strip to evacuate the area, preparing for a "ground operation," after Hamas announced its acceptance of the ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a brief press conference on Monday, "We ask the residents this evening to evacuate the areas we have identified," explaining that "the evacuation of residents from the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah" is part of "preparations for a ground operation in the area." He added that throughout the day, aircraft had also bombed more than 50 targets in Rafah, labeling them as "terrorist" targets.
Earlier, Hamas announced its approval of the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the movement. Hagari stated that Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal is being studied "seriously," while skepticism arose among political officials. Israeli media reported that the political establishment in Israel did not take Hamas's announcement of acceptance of the ceasefire proposal seriously, noting that Hamas agreed to a modified version of the proposal that Israel has not yet approved.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority quoted a source saying, "This is a unilateral response from Hamas to an Egyptian proposal, and when we receive it, we will study it and respond." The Israeli army radio also mentioned that the proposal approved by Hamas has not yet been agreed upon by Israel.
