U.S. pushes Hamas to accept cease-fire before Israel Rafah invasion

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the Middle East leading the diplomatic effort — lent urgency by the possible military assault on Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering — after President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. opposition to a Rafah operation in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

Netanyahu's threat comes after the US renewed its warning against a ground invasion of Rafah, the southern city of Gaza which is holding over 2.5 million Palestinians including displaced people.

Meanwhile, Hamas is exploiting the prolonged waiting period and preparing well for the ground operation in this sector, which will undoubtedly pose complex operational challenges for the IDF.

After the U.S., more Nato nations are warning Israel against launching an offensive in Rafah.