Israeli forces launched a military operation in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip, on Monday, targeting multiple locations despite ongoing ceasefire talks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the proposed cease-fire did not meet Israel’s key demands, even though Hamas had accepted the Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal earlier in the day.
The decision came despite opposition from the United States and other key Israeli allies.
The southern Gaza city of Rafah is home to about 1.4 million Palestinians, over half of Gaza’s population.
The announcement of the ceasefire by Hamas had sparked celebrations in Rafah, suggesting hope among residents that an invasion might be averted.
However, the subsequent Israeli strike has shattered these hopes, escalating tensions in the region.
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