On the 9th day of the Israel-Hamas conflict, reports emerged of a ceasefire in Southern Gaza, but there is confusion and contradiction in the statements from Israel and Hamas.
There were reports that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt temporarily opened at 9 a.m. (06:00 GMT) on Monday, allowing foreigners, including approximately 600 American citizens, to cross into Egypt. This development came amid the possibility of an Israeli invasion of Gaza.
However, both the Prime Minister’s office in Israel and Hamas have denied the existence of a ceasefire, casting doubt on the accuracy of the reports.
Rafah is currently the only exit point for Gaza after Israel closed its crossings. The recent agreement with Egypt allows only foreign nationals to pass through.
The US State Department has described the situation at the Rafah crossing as “fluid and unpredictable.” It remains “unclear” how long the crossing will stay open in the face of a potential Israeli ground invasion of Gaza.
Foreigners and dual nationals are awaiting evacuation arrangements, while humanitarian aid from Jordan and Turkey is reportedly stranded at the Rafah crossing, awaiting clearance for entry.
Biden Warns Israel Against Gaza Occupation Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
As Israeli forces prepare for a ground invasion in the Gaza Strip, US President Joe Biden issued a caution to Tel Aviv, referring to the occupation of the enclave as a “big mistake” and ruling out any direct US involvement.
During an interview on the CBS News program “60 Minutes” that aired on Sunday, Joe Biden said that invading Gaza would be a big mistake.
The Israeli assault on innocent Palestinians began eight days ago, triggered by heavy responses from Hamas fighters in the face of decades-long Zionist oppression of civilians.
The brutal attacks by the Zionists have resulted in at least 2,670 people losing their lives due to indiscriminate bombing and shelling in Gaza, with over 9,200 Palestinians injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces were preparing for a ground assault as Israel pledged to eradicate Hamas. President Biden emphasized that while Hamas does not represent all Palestinian people, dealing with extremists is a necessary requirement.
