Israel to send mediators to negotiate cease-fire as it presses on with Rafah operation

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Hamas informed Arab mediators that it would approve a Qatari-Egyptian cease-fire proposal, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, said in a statement Monday. The Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement later Monday that the war cabinet had "unanimously decided" to continue the operation in Rafah, but added that Israel would send mediators to try to negotiate an agreement, calling Hamas's proposal "far from Israel's requirements."

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On Monday, the Israeli military ordered about 100,000 civilians in parts of Rafah to evacuate "immediately" to a humanitarian zone. A member of Hamas's political bureau, Suhail al-Hindi, told The Washington Post that "Rafah will become a graveyard" for Israeli soldiers should a military operation occur.

In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Monday, President Biden reiterated his opposition to a ground invasion of Rafah and provided an update on negotiations in Doha, Qatar, according to a White House readout of the conversation.

Biden also met Monday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, during which Abdullah warned that an Israeli invasion of Rafah "could cause a regional spillover of the conflict" and called on the international community to "take urgent action" to stop an attack on Rafah.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency that aids Palestinians (UNRWA) said an Israeli offensive in Rafah would be "devastating" for the 1.4 million people sheltering there. It said it was not evacuating Rafah and would stay for "as long as possible" to continue providing aid.

Four Israeli soldiers were killed and others wounded in a rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom border crossing Sunday, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas claimed responsibility for the strike on the crossing, which was closed for humanitarian aid.

At least 34,735 people have been killed and 78,108 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 267 soldiers have been killed since the launch of its military operation in Gaza.

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On Monday, the Israeli military ordered about 100,000 civilians in parts of Rafah to evacuate "immediately" to a humanitarian zone. A member of Hamas's political bureau, Suhail al-Hindi, told The Washington Post that "Rafah will become a graveyard" for Israeli soldiers should a military operation occur.

In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier Monday, President Biden reiterated his opposition to a ground invasion of Rafah and provided an update on negotiations in Doha, Qatar, according to a White House readout of the conversation.

Biden also met Monday with Jordan's King Abdullah II, during which Abdullah warned that an Israeli invasion of Rafah "could cause a regional spillover of the conflict" and called on the international community to "take urgent action" to stop an attack on Rafah.

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency that aids Palestinians (UNRWA) said an Israeli offensive in Rafah would be "devastating" for the 1.4 million people sheltering there. It said it was not evacuating Rafah and would stay for "as long as possible" to continue providing aid.

Four Israeli soldiers were killed and others wounded in a rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom border crossing Sunday, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Hamas claimed responsibility for the strike on the crossing, which was closed for humanitarian aid.

At least 34,735 people have been killed and 78,108 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but says the majority of the dead are women and children.

Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 267 soldiers have been killed since the launch of its military operation in Gaza.

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