GAZA STRIP, Apr 8: Israeli leaders were preparing for military operations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah today, where most of the Palestinian territory’s population has fled after six months of fighting.
Talks in Cairo aimed at brokering a truce have made “significant progress”, with more negotiations expected in the coming days, reported Egyptian state-linked outlet Al-Qahera on Monday.
International pressure has mounted on Israel to bring an end to the war, with its main ally the United States last week demanding a ceasefire and hostage release deal along with ramped-up aid deliveries.
Israel pulled its forces out of the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday.
But Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said troops had left the city of Khan Yunis “to prepare for future missions, including… in Rafah”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “one step away from victory”.
Netanyahu has come under heightened pressure from US President Joe Biden — whose administration is Israel’s top arms supplier and political backer — to end the war and improve the humanitarian situation.
An Israeli drone strike on April 1 killed seven aid workers for the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen, prompting Biden to hint at making US support for Israel conditional on boosting protections for civilians and improving humanitarian conditions.
Vast areas of Gaza have been turned into a rubble-strewn wasteland, with damage estimated at $18.5 billion to critical infrastructure, mostly housing, a World Bank report said.
Israel’s siege on Gaza has killed at least 33,175 people, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.-TVS
