The Israeli PM declares, "We will enter Rafah."

Clara James |1st May, 2024.

The aftermath of Israeli airstrike attack in Gaza on Monday.Photo Credit: AP/Mohammad Jahjouh

Despite calls for restraint, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to start an offensive in Rafah, in southern Gaza, after reports surfaced that airstrikes overnight killed Palestinians in their homes.

He declared that "with or without a deal," which is presently being debated in Cairo, Israel will eliminate Hamas' battalions there.

A cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas aims to release hostages and provide some respite to the besieged Palestinian enclave.

It is implausible that we will end the war before it accomplishes all of its objectives. Netanyahu stated, "With a deal or without a deal, we will enter Rafah and we will eliminate Hamas’ battalions there to achieve the total victory." The meeting was with the families of captives held by militants in Gaza.

Prior to this, the US increased its pressure on Hamas to reach a truce in Gaza in the face of further Israeli airstrikes and proposals.

Ahead of his trip to Israel this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed Hamas to accept the most recent approach, describing it as "extraordinarily generous" on Israel's behalf.

The conditions remained undisclosed. However, Israel has reportedly changed its stance, reducing the number of captives it wants Hamas release during the first six weeks of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians being released from Israeli prisons, according to an Egyptian official and Israeli media.

Whether that will be sufficient to allay Hamas's worries about the second phase of the truce is one question.

Hamas has requested guarantees that Israel's nearly seven-month-long assault on Gaza will end completely and that its troops will evacuate from the severely damaged region upon the ultimate release of all detainees.

Israel has only proposed a protracted stop, promising to restart its offensive after it is over. Throughout months of negotiations, the matter has continually impeded efforts by US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators.

Strikes on Monday morning and throughout the night levelled at least three Palestinian extended families' homes.

According to hospital records and an Associated Press reporter, among the deceased were nine women and six children, one of whom was just five days old.

Mahmoud Abu Taha, whose cousin was slain together with his wife and their year-old child in a residence where at least ten people perished, claimed that "everyone was sleeping in their beds." "They are unrelated to anything at all."

Egypt has increased its efforts to mediate a truce in the hopes of preventing an attack on Rafah, which is located on Gaza's border with Egypt.

According to an Egyptian official, Israel has reduced the number of hostages it wants released in the first phase from its previous demands of forty. The new number was not specified by him.

According to Israeli media, in exchange for the release of 900 Palestinian detainees, it now wants the freedom of 33 hostages. It's estimated that Hamas is housing about 100 Israelis in Gaza.

Mahmoud Abu Taha, whose cousin was slain together with his wife and their year-old child in a residence where at least ten people perished, claimed, "Everyone was sleeping in their beds." "They are unrelated to anything at all."

Egypt has increased its efforts to mediate a truce in the hopes of preventing an attack on Rafah, which is located on Gaza's border with Egypt.

According to an Egyptian official, Israel has reduced the number of hostages it wants released in the first phase from its previous demands of forty. The new number was not specified by him.

Neither Israeli officials nor Hamas responded right away.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials seemed more and more worried that the country's leaders would get arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

What initially raised the suspicions was unclear. The International Criminal Court began an investigation three years ago into potential war crimes by Israel and Palestinian terrorists during the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict.

The investigation also looks into Israel's establishment of settlements in occupied area that the Palestinians desire to become their future state.

The court remained silent on Monday and has not indicated that warrants are likely to be issued in this instance.

However, Israel's Foreign Ministry announced late on Sunday that it had notified Israeli diplomats of "rumours" indicating that key military and political figures could be the subject of warrants.

Although neither the US nor Israel recognise the ICC's jurisdiction, any warrants might increase the possibility that Israeli officials would be detained abroad.

Additionally, they would be a significant criticism of Israel's conduct at a time when pro-Palestinian demonstrations are becoming more widespread on US college campuses.

The current conflict in Gaza is being investigated by the International Court of Justice, a distinct organisation. A decision is anticipated in the coming years. The investigation concerns whether Israel has committed acts of genocide. In addition to accusing both international tribunals of bias, Israel has denied any wrongdoing.

The attack, spearheaded by Hamas, occurred on October 7, when militants broke into southern Israel's army outposts and farmland towns, murdering over 1200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapping nearly 250 more.

As per the Health Ministry of Gaza, who does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in their count, Israel's air, sea, and land offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 34,488 Palestinians, primarily women and children.