Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Friday a plan of Israel Defense Forces for the operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah and rejected Hamas demands about the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, said Netanyahu's office.
In a statement issued following a war cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the demands of Hamas are "still absurd."
He noted Israel will still send delegates to Qatar, a main regional mediator of a diplomatic solution to the raging Gaza conflict, to continue the truce efforts "once the security cabinet discusses the Israeli position."
Israel's decision came despite widespread warnings from the international community to avoid more incursions into Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinian refugees have been seeking shelter since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.
