Editor's Pick | Israel strikes Rafah, hours after Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire plan

Even as Hamas announced its acceptance of an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire to halt the seven-month-long war with Israel in Gaza, the deal remains uncertain with Israel pushing ahead with a military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. In recent days, Egyptian and Hamas officials said the ceasefire will take place in a series of stages during which Hamas would release hostages it is holding in exchange for Israeli troop pullbacks from Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Hamas said that its top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, delivered the news of its agreement in a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Egypt’s Intelligence Minister. This came after Israel ordered 1,00,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah, signalling that a long-threatened ground invasion there could be imminent. The looming operation has raised global alarm over the fate of around 1.4 million Palestinians sheltering there, with U.S. President Joe Biden urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an offensive in Rafah. Aid agencies have also warned that an offensive will worsen Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe and bring a surge of more civilian deaths in an Israeli campaign that in nearly seven months has killed 34,000 people and devastated the territory. After the release of the statement on Monday, Palestinians erupted in cheers in the sprawling tent camps around Rafah. Hours later, Israel said the deal did not meet its core demands but added that negotiations will continue. Soon after, Israeli forces began “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah as tanks entered the area. Israeli airstrikes also hit elsewhere in Rafah, killing at least five people, including a child and a woman, as per Associated Press. The Hindu’s Editorials Time to talk: On Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Mullaperiyar dam row Twin towers: On China, India and badminton The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz What is the precentage of export duty stipulated on onion exports? 40% 45% 50% 30% To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 07 May 2024 [The Hindu logo] [EP Logo] Editor's Pick 07 May 2024 In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [View in browser]( [More newsletters]( Israel strikes Rafah, hours after Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire plan Even as Hamas announced its [acceptance of an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefir]( to halt the seven-month-long war with Israel in Gaza, the deal remains uncertain with Israel pushing ahead with a military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. In recent days, [Egyptian and Hamas officials said the ceasefire will take place in a series of stages]( during which Hamas would release hostages it is holding in exchange for Israeli troop pullbacks from Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Hamas said that its top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, delivered the news of its agreement in a phone call with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Egypt’s Intelligence Minister. This came after[ Israel ordered 1,00,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah]( signalling that a long-threatened ground invasion there could be imminent. The looming operation has raised global alarm over the fate of around 1.4 million Palestinians sheltering there, with U.S. President Joe Biden [urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against launching an offensive in Rafah](. Aid agencies have also warned that an offensive will worsen Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe and bring a surge of more civilian deaths in an [Israeli campaign that in nearly seven months has killed 34,000 peopleÂ]( devastated the territory. After the release of the statement on Monday, Palestinians erupted in cheers in the sprawling tent camps around Rafah. Hours later, Israel said the deal did not meet its core demands but added that negotiations will continue. Soon after, Israeli forces began “targeted strikes” against Hamas in eastern Rafah as tanks entered the area. Israeli airstrikes also hit elsewhere in Rafah, killing at least five people, including a child and a woman, as per Associated Press. 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