Strikes are increasing in the Gaza Strip, mainly in Rafah where the Israeli army has indicated that it is carrying out an “anti-terrorist operation”. At the same time, negotiations for a ceasefire continue in Cairo.
The Gaza Strip still under bombs. Airstrikes on the Gaza Strip are increasing this Wednesday, May 8, reports BFMTV. If negotiations continue in Egypt with a view to a truce agreement in particular in favor of the release of the last hostages, the Israeli army continues to strike different sectors of Palestinian territory after regaining control of Rafah. On site, at the border crossing point with Egypt, the last hospital still in operation, indicated that it was receiving “dozens of dead” as well as “continuously injured”. He also fears a significant “health disaster” after the continuous bombing of the Jewish state.
In a publication posted on Telegram this Wednesday, the Israeli army indicated that it was carrying out an “anti-terrorist operation” in several specific areas of Rafah. Nearly a hundred terrorist targets located in the Gaza Strip such as military structures and infrastructure, or observation posts were reportedly destroyed by the air force, Israel said.
After more than seven months of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, discussions around Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators have resumed in Cairo with a view to a possible future ceasefire. “All parties agree to return to the negotiating table” with a view to a truce, said the Egyptian media Al-Qahera News, close to the intelligence services. Although White House spokesperson John Kirby said he hoped for an agreement "very soon", Benjamin Netanyahu gave instructions to the Israeli delegation to be "firm on the conditions necessary for the release of hostages.”
As the situation in Gaza becomes unbearable since the closure of the humanitarian aid crossing points at Rafah and Kerem Shalom, Khalil al-Hayya, the number two in Hamas's political wing, indicated that the proposal which had been accepted by its movement included three phases lasting 42 days each. These would include a return of the displaced, an exchange of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners, as well as an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territory. The objective being a “permanent ceasefire”. A position that for the moment does not seem to be shared by Israel, which has always opposed a permanent ceasefire until Hamas, in power since 2007, has been completely "defeated", reports BFMTV.
Since the Hamas military attack on Israel on October 7, which cost the lives of more than 1,170 people, mainly civilians, 128 of the 250 people kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip are still being held hostage. Among them, 36 are considered dead according to the army. In retaliation for this attack, the Israeli army continued to bombard the Gaza Strip, killing up to 35,000 people according to the Hamas Ministry of Health.
