On May 6, 2024, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh announced that the group had agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal presented by mediators from Egypt and Qatar. However, the Israeli government responded by saying that the proposal agreed by Hamas was far from Israel’s demands. It also stated that a delegation would be sent to negotiate, and the military operation on Rafah would continue. The Israeli army announced striking targets in the east of the city.
The situation is tense as thousands of people have already fled eastern Rafah after Israel ordered them to evacuate. There are fears of a full-blown military assault on the city, which is currently sheltering more than one million displaced people.
Hamas has warned that any Israeli military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza will not be a “picnic” and that it is “fully prepared” to defend Palestinians. The group’s acceptance of the ceasefire proposal could be seen as a positive step towards peace, but it remains to be seen if it will lead to a lasting resolution of the conflict.
Since October 7, 34,735 people have been killed and 78,108 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for several years, and it remains a highly contentious issue. While both sides have made efforts towards peace in the past, a lasting resolution has yet to be achieved. The situation in Rafah and Gaza as a whole is precarious, with many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. It is hoped that both sides will continue to work towards a peaceful solution that benefits everyone involved.
