ALBAWABA - Citing Israeli military sources, the army is prepared to invade Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in a matter of 72 hours if no deal on a cease-fire is reached.
Multiple delegations representing Hamas and Israel have arrived in Cairo in hopes of moving forward with the long-hampered negotiations between both parties regarding a new hostage swap and ceasefire deal.
According to the Israeli news website Ynet, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has approved the final preparations for a military attack in Rafah, as well as a plan to relocate Gazans to locations in the central Gaza Strip.
According to an anonymous source, the Israeli army's tanks and troops are positioned near the Gaza border and are ready to launch the onslaught.
It further stated that the next 48 to 72 hours are essential in terms of negotiating an agreement with the Hamas group or launching the attack on Rafah.
On the Egyptian side, officials confirmed that there was a new ceasefire deal on the table, which is hoped to put an end to the ongoing Israeli onslaughter in the besieged enclave.
"There is a proposal on the table to reach a truce in Gaza," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said during a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia.
Rafah is the last remaining area in the enclave where Israel has not yet formally announced the entry of its troops to continue the onslaught against Palestinians. Hamas is believed to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages, while Israel is keeping around 9,100 Palestinians in its jails.
For any hostage-prisoner swap deal with Tel Aviv, Hamas demands that Israel cease its deadly onslaught in the Gaza Strip and withdraw its forces from the strip.
In a prior ceasefire deal made in November 2023, 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners were released in return for 240 Palestinians, including 71 women and 169 children.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 34,535+ people, with more than 77,704+ injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
