Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery Saturday, hours after US President Joe Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire.
Shortly after Biden's announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country would still pursue the war until it had reached all its aims, including the destruction of Hamas.In his first major address outlining a possible end to the conflict, the US president said Israel's three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
Hamas in a statement on Friday evening said it"considers positively" Biden's speech regarding"a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reconstruction and the exchange of prisoners". But Netanyahu took issue with Biden's presentation of what was on the table, insisting the transition from one stage to the next in the proposed roadmap was"conditional" and crafted to allow Israel to maintain its war aims.
Israel has repeatedly vowed to destroy Hamas since the Palestinian militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7. "There are a number of occupation snipers in high-rise buildings overseeing all areas of Tal al-Sultan... making the situation very dangerous", the resident added.
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