Israel ‘take control of Rafah crossing’ amid uncertainty over ceasefire deal – live

Jordan’s King Abdullah told US President Joe Biden in a private meeting yesterday that the Israeli attack in Rafah would lead to a “new genocide” of Palestinian civilians and urged the international community to take immediate action.

“The king warned of the consequences of an Israeli ground attack on Rafah, which could lead to regional spillover of the conflict,” a statement from the Jordanian royal court said after Abdullah had lunch with Mr Biden at the White House.

The Jordanian statement said Mr Abdullah “warned that the Israeli attack on Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians are internally displaced as a result of the war on Gaza, threatens a new genocide” in his meeting with Mr Biden.

“His Excellency stressed the importance of all efforts to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” it said. “The King and the US President reaffirmed their commitment to work to reach a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the importance of facilitating the delivery of sustainable humanitarian assistance to the Strip in the face of dire needs.”

The White House said in a separate written statement that the two leaders “discussed the need for the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and the need for a permanent ceasefire that will allow urgently needed humanitarian aid to be safely delivered through Gaza.” Allows for increased aid”.

“Both are committed to achieving a durable, lasting peace that includes a pathway to Palestinian statehood with security guarantees for Israel,” the White House statement said.

A spokesman for the Gaza Border Authority told Reuters that the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt is closed to the Palestinian side due to the presence of Israeli tanks.

Three humanitarian sources told Reuters the flow of aid through the crossing had been halted.

Israeli forces have taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, bordering Egypt, Israeli military radio reported.

Asked for confirmation, the Israeli military said it would “publish a statement shortly”.

US President Joe Biden urgently warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah as the divide between the two leaders grows along with the rising Palestinian death toll.

The call between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu came as Israel was moving closer to a major military operation to root out Hamas militants in Rafah – something Biden and his top aides have repeatedly told Israeli officials That this will only lead to more deaths and worsen the situation. Despair in a war-torn area.

Both leaders are facing increasing public pressure for a ceasefire agreement – ​​Mr Biden from protests on college campuses and Mr Netanyahu from the families of some Israeli hostages.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, “The President does not want to see actions in Rafah that would put more danger to the more than one million people seeking refuge there.”

The White House described the leaders’ 30-minute conversation as “constructive.” However, privately, administration officials were growing concerned as Israel yesterday ordered about 100,000 Palestinians out of Rafah and began carrying out “targeted” strikes in the eastern part of the city.

White House officials were watching the Israeli actions in Rafah with deep concern, according to a person familiar with the administration’s thinking who was not authorized to comment publicly. There was an attack, which Mr. Netanyahu was threatening.

The humanitarian situation across Gaza is rapidly deteriorating. Cindy McCain, head of the U.N. World Food Program, said Sunday that northern Gaza has entered “full famine” after nearly seven months of war.

Israel had earlier announced that it had plans to evacuate Palestinians from Rafah. Shortly after the order, Hamas said it had accepted the Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel would continue its operations in Gaza as officials deliberate on a ceasefire proposal approved by Hamas.

And the Israeli War Cabinet voted unanimously to approve the Rafah military operation, but said it would continue efforts for a ceasefire.

The new targeted attacks in eastern Rafah are aimed at maintaining pressure on Hamas while negotiations continue.

About 450,000 displaced Palestinians take refuge in Muwasi. The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said it was providing aid to them, but conditions were poor, with little sanitation facilities in the largely rural area, forcing families to seek shelter in private homes. One is forced to dig toilets.

The Israeli evacuation order left Palestinians in Rafah facing an unknown fate once again uprooting their families after months of living in vast tent camps in and around the city or in schools or other shelters. were tired. Israeli air strikes on Rafah early yesterday killed 22 people, including children and two infants.

Mohammed Zindiyah said that at the beginning of the war, he tried to stay in his home in northern Gaza under heavy bombardment before fleeing to Rafah.

He is following Israel’s evacuation order this time, but is unsure whether to go to Muwasi or elsewhere.

“We are 12 families, and we don’t know where to go. There is no safe zone in Gaza,” he said. Sahar Abu Nahel, who fled Rafah with 20 family members, including her children and grandchildren, wiped tears from her cheeks, frustrated by the new move.

“I don’t have any money or anything. I’m seriously exhausted, like a baby,” she said. “Maybe it is more honorable for us to die. We are being insulted.”

Thousands of Israelis rallied across the country last night demanding an immediate agreement to release hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

The protests came as Israel’s war cabinet voted to launch an operation in the city of Rafah, saying a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas overnight was not in line with Israel’s demands.

In Tel Aviv, about 1,000 protesters gathered near Israel’s military headquarters, some blocking the city’s main highway late at night. Police tried to clear the road, removed some protesters from the road and extinguished fires lit during the demonstration. Other officers on horseback surrounded the crowd chanting “Deal now!”

Hundreds of protesters in Jerusalem demanded a hostage settlement. They marched towards the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, holding a banner that read, “Blood is on your hands”.

Smaller protests also took place in the cities of Haifa, Beersheba and Ra’anana.

Israeli police did not immediately respond to a request for details on the number of people arrested.

Standing in front of Netanyahu’s house was Mai Albini Perry, grandson of hostage Haim Perry in Gaza. He was holding a placard on which it was written, “Rafa, not at the expense of my grandfather.”

Hamas has published a copy of a ceasefire and hostage release proposal that the terrorist group said it had agreed to yesterday.

The framework put forward by Qatar and Egypt aims to end the seven-month-long war in Gaza. However, it is unclear whether Israel will agree to the terms.

The proposal outlines a phased release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, as well as a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the entire territory and a “permanent peace” or “permanent cessation of military and hostile operations.”

Israel has previously said it would not agree to a full withdrawal of its forces or a permanent ceasefire as part of the hostage release deal.

The first phase will last 42 days and will include the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of approximately 33 hostages held in the area, including the remaining Israeli women – both civilians and soldiers – as well as children, older adults, and children. And those who are sick.

For every Israeli civilian held hostage in Israel, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released and for every female soldier, 50 Palestinian prisoners will be released.

During that time, displaced Palestinians in Gaza will be allowed to return to their home neighborhoods.

Biden administration officials continued to express concerns to the Israelis yesterday that a major military operation in the densely populated areas of Rafah could be devastating.

White House officials were also privately concerned about the latest attacks on Rafah — though the strikes did not pose the threat of a large-scale attack given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a person familiar with the Biden administration’s thinking. Who were not authorized to comment publicly. ,