On Thursday, the Israeli military gathered tanks near the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip and sporadically fired, but has not launched a large-scale assault yet.
Previously, US President Joe Biden had sworn to suspend weapons supply to Israel if they were to launch a major attack on Rafah.
Biden stated in an interview with CNN on Wednesday, “I have made it clear that if they enter Rafah, I will stop providing weapons.”
In order to protect civilians in Gaza, Washington has halted the delivery of 1800 2000-pound bombs and 1700 500-pound bombs to Israel.
The US is Israel’s largest arms supplier. Following Hamas’ attack on October 7th, prompting Israel’s offensive in Gaza, the US expedited weapon deliveries.
Biden mentioned that Israel has not presented a convincing plan to protect civilians in Rafah, hence issued a stern warning against initiating a full-scale ground assault.
According to reports from Israeli public radio, Israel’s UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, stated that the US’s decision to suspend certain weapon shipments will significantly weaken Israel’s ability to counter Hamas.
Recently, the director of the CIA, William Burns, has been shuttling between Cairo and Jerusalem and held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
Two Egyptian security sources informed Reuters that Burns has returned to Cairo following meetings in Jerusalem and will continue mediating talks with various parties on Thursday in hopes of achieving a ceasefire soon.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that the differences between the two sides are not significant and that they are close enough to reach an agreement.
Negotiations for a ceasefire have been ongoing in Cairo with delegations from Hamas, Israel, the US, Egypt, and Qatar.
A source familiar with the matter cited by Egyptian TV channel Al Qahera mentioned signs of progress towards an agreement without disclosing details.
However, Hamas’ representative in Qatar, Izzat El-Reshiq, stated on Wednesday that Hamas will not exceed the ceasefire proposal accepted on Monday which requests the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian women and children detained in Israel.
El-Reshiq accused Israel of not being serious about reaching an agreement and using negotiations as a pretext to invade Rafah and occupy border crossings.
Israel has not immediately responded to Hamas’ statement.
Earlier this week, Israel declared that the three-stage ceasefire proposal presented by Hamas is unacceptable, mentioning that some terms have become invalid.
While ceasefire talks continue in Cairo, Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed to have attacked Israeli military positions in eastern Rafah with anti-tank rockets and mortar shells.
On Thursday, Israel continued tank and aerial strikes across Gaza. Residents reported tanks advancing towards Zeitoon in northern Gaza, forcing hundreds of families to flee. The Israeli military stated they conducted a series of airstrikes targeting approximately 25 “terrorist targets” to secure the safety of Zeitoon.
Rafah is currently the major urban area in Gaza that has not been occupied by Israeli ground forces. Residents and medical personnel described Israeli tanks firing near a mosque in the Brazil neighborhood in the east of the city, resulting in three deaths and several injuries.
On the eastern edges of the city, residents reported helicopters firing, and drones hovering over homes in several areas, some approaching rooftops.
Israel claims that Hamas fighters are hiding in Rafah, necessitating their elimination to ensure their own safety.
In recent days, thousands of people have begun fleeing Rafah, flooding into Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. Palestinian medical personnel reported that an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of people there, resulting in the deaths of two, including a woman.
According to the United Nations, Israel seized control of the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday, cutting off a crucial aid route, leading to 80,000 people fleeing Gaza city this week.
Currently, tens of thousands of Palestinian families have fled from other parts of Gaza and are seeking refuge in Rafah, crowding into tent camps and temporary shelters in the city.
UNRWA posted on X that “the price these families are paying is unbearable, and there is no safe place.”
A UN official remarked that due to the military operations, no fuel or aid can enter Gaza, creating a “disaster for those trapped in the enclave,” where over half the population is enduring hunger.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated on Thursday that the Rafah border crossing adjacent to Egypt has been closed, preventing the evacuation of the injured, and essential medical supplies, food, and fuel are unable to enter. The Health Ministry also mentioned that the only dialysis center in Rafah has stopped operating due to Israeli shelling.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7th last year when Hamas militants launched a terrorist attack on Israel. The attack led to around 1200 Israeli deaths and 252 abductions. According to Israel’s latest data, 128 individuals are still held hostage in Gaza, with 36 declared dead.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israel’s attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 34,904 Palestinians, with the majority being civilians.
(This article references Reuters’ reporting)