Gaza Ceasefire Prospects Dim After Israel Rejects Rafah’s Call

(CTN News) – Hamas maintained its offensive in southern Gaza on Sunday, despite dimming prospects for a ceasefire.

In 24 hours, 127 people died in Gaza’s health ministry, as the main battlefront edged towards Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians live in crowded shelters.

Despite Washington’s preference for a temporary truce, Washington intends to veto a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected some Hamas demands as “ludicrous” in separate ceasefire talks.

Khan Yunis has been the focus of Israeli military operations since October 7, the hometown of Hamas’s Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar.

He argued that failing to launch the ground invasion would mean “losing the war”. In an effort to minimise casualties, the military is moving civilians from the area, but it hasn’t disclosed the exact details.

Netanyahu’s government also rejected Western pressure to recognize a Palestinian state unilaterally.

. A future peace settlement cannot be reached after the horrible October 7 massacre, Netanyahu said.

Israel rejects international diktats regarding a permanent Palestinian settlement. Direct negotiations between parties are required to reach a settlement.”

At least 10 people were killed overnight in Rafah and central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah by strikes and fighting.

In the morgue of a Rafah hospital, mourners gave a final kiss to a loved one.

Ahmad Mohammed Aburizq said his cousin was martyred in Al-Mawasi. My mother was martyred the day before.

“Even the hospital isn’t safe.”

That ‘moment of truth’ –

Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 Israeli deaths, mostly civilians, according to AFP. According to Israeli figures, militants also took 250 hostages, 130 of whom are still in Gaza. In comments that sparked a strong Israeli response, Brazil’s president accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza on Sunday.

He called the remarks “shameful and grave” and summoned the Brazilian ambassador.

It’s Holocaust trivialization and an attack on Israel’s right to defend itself, the premier said.

In central Gaza, an air strike killed “over 10” militants, while the military said it killed around 35 militants.

On Saturday, thousands marched in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of abandoning the hostages. Washington has already spoken out against next week’s possible Security Council vote.

“The United States doesn’t support this draft resolution,” said US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. If it’s voted on as drafted, it won’t pass.”

Algeria’s draft resolution calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, but Thomas-Greenfield said the United States wants a six-week truce-for-hostages deal. Biden talked to Netanyahu and Egyptian and Qatari leaders “multiple times” this week, she said.

According to Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, those talks weren’t very promising. Several countries insisted on freeing more hostages as part of any new truce, he said.

Hunger is ravaging people –

Unless aid reaches Gaza’s north, where aid agencies warn of looming famine, Hamas will suspend the talks.

A senior Palestinian militant told AFP that negotiations can’t be held while hunger ravages the Palestinians. Andrea De Domenico, head of the UN humanitarian agency in Gaza, said he didn’t know how 300,000 people survived.

The Israeli military said troops are still operating “in the Nasser Hospital” and nearby, where they’ve “located additional weapons”.

Ashraf al-Qudra, Gaza’s health ministry spokesman, says Israeli troops turned Nasser Hospital into a barracks. Since power has been out for three days, one more person died due to lack of oxygen. Israel army spokesman Richard Hecht said diesel and oxygen supplies were delivered to the hospital on Saturday, and a temporary generator was running.

Two Palestinian men were killed in an occupied West Bank refugee camp on Sunday.

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