Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday that irrespective of ongoing talks for a ceasefire, Israeli forces would advance into the southern Gaza city of Rafah to secure what he termed “total victory.”
Netanyahu announced plans to gather his cabinet early this week to finalize strategies, including civilian evacuations from Rafah, where around 1.5 million people are seeking refuge.
The impending operation has raised concerns from the US, Israel’s closest ally, while Jordan has warned of catastrophic consequences.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages gained momentum as an Israeli delegation prepared for discussions in Qatar, aiming to reach an agreement before Ramadan, which commences on March 10.
Protest at Israeli Embassy
An active-duty member of the US Air Force, Aaron Bushnell, doused himself in an unknown liquid and set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. Declaring, “I will no longer be complicit in genocide.” He remains critically injured.
The incident, reminiscent of a similar protest in Atlanta, is under investigation by multiple agencies amid heightened domestic tensions over the Israeli-Hamas conflict, where approximately 1,200 people have been killed in Israel and over 30,000 in Gaza.
The UN warns of a severe increase in malnutrition due to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which has halted aid deliveries, including food, at the border.