Red alert in Gaza Strip?

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would keep his plan to attack Rafah, regardless of the outcome of the ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

“A ground operation against Rafah would be nothing short of a tragedy,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs. “Progress in Israel improving aid access in the Gaza Strip cannot justify a full-scale assault on Rafah.”

Palestinian father and son at a ruined house in Rafah City (Gaza Strip) on May 1

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli leaders yesterday, focusing on pushing the Israeli government to take a series of concrete steps to improve the flow of humanitarian aid to densely populated areas. Mr. Blinken also reiterated his call for Hamas to accept the ceasefire proposal soon, which senior Hamas officer Sami Abu Zuhri said was putting pressure on the force.

US Secretary of State says Hamas should accept 'extremely generous' ceasefire deal from Israel

Also yesterday, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne stopped in Egypt, a destination not originally scheduled for his Middle East tour. Reuters quoted a French diplomatic source as saying that Mr. Sejourne's surprise visit was in the context of Egypt's efforts to mediate a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, including three French citizens held by Hamas.

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