Hamas earlier said it had accepted a proposal from Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip/CAIRO/JERUSALEM - Israel played down the likelihood of a ceasefire in Gaza on May 6 after Hamas said it had accepted a proposal from mediators, even as residents fled the city of Rafah in fear of an Israeli assault.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity said the proposal that Hamas had accepted was a watered-down version of an Egyptian offer and included elements that Israel could not accept. “We want to get these hostages out, we want to get a ceasefire in place for six weeks, we want to increase humanitarian assistance,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, adding that reaching an agreement would be the “absolute best outcome”.Any truce would be the first pause in fighting since a week-long ceasefire in November, during which Hamas freed around half of the hostages its fighters captured in the Oct 7 attack that precipitated the war.
Earlier on May 6, Israel ordered the evacuation of parts of Rafah, the city on Gaza’s southern edge that has served as the last sanctuary for around half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. People flee the eastern parts of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, ahead of a threatened assault by Israel. PHOTO: REUTERSTo background of bombs, Palestinians flee Rafah to seek shelter elsewhere once again“They have been firing since last night and today after the evacuation orders the bombardment became more intense because they want to frighten us to leave,” Mr Jaber Abu Nazly, a 40-year old father of two told Reuters via a chat app.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fears grow for Rafah as Israel-Hamas war rages on 200th dayGAZA STRIP: The Israel-Hamas war entered its 200th day on Tuesday (Apr 23) as aid groups warned that Israeli plans to invade the southern city of Rafah where most Gazans have taken refuge would create an "apocalyptic situation".
Read more »
Fears grow for Rafah as Israel-Hamas war rages on 200th dayAid groups warned that Israeli plans to invade Rafah would create an “apocalyptic situation”.
Read more »
Israel begins evacuating part of Rafah, Hamas decries ‘dangerous escalation’Witnesses said the areas in and around Rafah are already crowded and there is almost no room for more tents to be added.
Read more »
Israel attacks Rafah after Hamas claims responsibility for deadly rocket attackCAIRO — Three Israeli soldiers were killed in a rocket attack claimed by Hamas armed wing, near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, where Palestinian health officials said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday.
Read more »
Israel-Hamas war: Mounting international alarm over possible ground offensive into RafahThere are mounting concerns over Israel's planned offensive into Gaza's southern city of Rafah. The United Nations is warning that such an incursion could amount to slaughter, jeopardising humanitarian operations across the entire Strip.
Read more »
Netanyahu vows again to storm Rafah as Israel awaits Hamas reply to truce proposalWith or without a deal, Israel intends to pursue the operation in Rafah, he said.
Read more »