WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Hamas says it’s accepted a ceasefire proposal, but Israel is still moving forward with its planned invasion of Rafah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says right now Israel has not agreed to a deal with Hamas and the Biden administration says they’re on the ground trying to help.
At the White House National Security Advisor John Kirby says U.S. officials are still reviewing it.
“We’ll be encouraged when we get a deal in place, and we can start seeing hostages get back with their families,” Kirby.
The details of the potential ceasefire deal are still unclear.
A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Hamas’s proposal “far from Israel’s necessary requirements.”
The news came just hours after Israel dropped flyers ordering Palestinians to start evacuating from Rafah.
“A military operation in Rafah right now would dramatically increase the suffering of the Palestinian people,” said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
On Monday President Joe Biden told Netanyahu once again that his troops should not attack but Netanyahu insists taking Rafah would ensure Hamas can’t repeat its October 7th attack.
More than a million Palestinians are still sheltering there.
“The problem now is there’s such limited places for them to go inside Gaza, and there’s no effective way to distribute aid to them,” said Miller.
Rafah has been a main entry point for humanitarian aid to Gaza, that’s why U.S. officials are still hopeful for a deal to end the fighting.
“A ceasefire is absolutely achievable,” Miller said.
The CIA director is in the region right now working on this deal as well.
Netanyahu’s office says in the meantime Israel has started conducting military operations in Rafah.
