This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839

The article has changed 63 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 48 Version 49
Israel Gaza live updates: IDF says it controls Gaza side of Rafah crossing - BBC News Israel Gaza live updates: IDF says it controls Gaza side of Rafah crossing - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Raffi Berg
Digital Middle East editor
Hamas's acceptance of (undisclosed) proposals appeared to offer a moment of hope in a months-long cycle of progress and setbacks. We've just been getting the latest on the BBC News channel from our reporters in Cairo and Jerusalem.
Momentum which led to Monday's statement by Hamas was Jo Floto, our Middle East Bureau Chief in Jerusalem, says Israel's special forces are currently combing Rafah in search of what they call "terrorist infrastructure".
kick-started just over a week ago, when an official from the group said it had Israel has already announced that it has found three tunnels, and these tunnels are key to why the IDF wants to be in this area of Gaza, Floto says. Israel has long suspected that this is the entry point for weaponry and other supplies to militant groups like Hamas, he adds.
"no major issues" with the latest proposal. In Cairo, BBC Arabic reporter Abdelbassir Hassan says no officials will confirm whether delegations from Israel or Hamas have arrived for ceasefire negotiations.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the He says that Egypt, a mediator in these negotiations, is showing restraint in its reaction to the development that Israel is now operating right up against its border between the Gaza Strip. Egypt has condemned Israel's control of the Rafah crossing, as has Qatar, another mediator in these talks. Neither want any enlargement of this conflict.
US was “hopeful” Hamas would accept the proposal, which he called
“extraordinarily generous”.
The terms were not publicised, but reports suggested that Israel
had found a new form of words about a pause in fighting – talking about a
"sustainable calm" in Gaza – something between a truce and a
ceasefire.
A day later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an
offensive against Hamas in Rafah would go ahead regardless of whether there was
a truce - raising doubts over Hamas's willingness to give a positive answer.
Hopes were further dimmed on Sunday when talks in Cairo
between Hamas and mediators stalled, with Israel and Hamas blaming each other.
A rocket attack from Rafah by Hamas the same day which killed
four Israeli soldiers, swiftly followed by Israeli air strikes on Rafah which
reportedly killed 19 Palestinians - and Israel's order hours later for Palestinians
to evacuate parts of Rafah - deepened a growing sense of pessimism.
So when Hamas's leadership issued its statement on Monday
evening saying they had approved the Egyptian and Qatari-mediated proposal, it
bucked expectations.
Neither Israel nor Hamas want to be held responsible for failing to reach a ceasefire - so each is showing they're prepared to keep going, as the urgency grows by the day.
FacebookFacebook
TwitterTwitter
ShareView more share optionsShare this postCopy this linkRead more about these links.ShareView more share optionsShare this postCopy this linkRead more about these links.
Copy this linkCopy this link