(New York Post) Israel launched an offensive into the final Hamas stronghold of Rafah on Monday — and a major target appeared to be the key border crossing with Egypt — the only way in or out of the Gaza Strip that Israel does not control.
The assault on the southern city — where more than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge from war elsewhere in the territory — came after Hamas made a last-ditch ploy for a cease-fire.
However, Hamas changed the language in the deal — allowing the terror group to count the bodies of dead hostages among the 33 Israelis they had agreed to turn over in exchange for a temporary stop to the fighting, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN TV.
Hamas made major headlines when it said it approved a cease-fire deal Monday afternoon. But the Hamas deal had major differences from previous iterations put forward my Israel.
In addition, Hamas continued to demand an end to the war, which has been a non-starter for Israel as it has vowed to eradicate the terror group.
Israel’s ground offensive launched shortly after the Jewish state called out and rejected the Hamas cease-fire proposal as nothing more than deception.
A Palestinian security official and Egyptian official both said Israeli tanks had entered the southern Gaza city and were as close as 250 yards from the crossing.
The IDF wants to control the Palestinian side of the crossing to review any aid flowing into Gaza, a source with direct knowledge told Axios’ Barak Ravid.
Israeli leaders believe that by taking over the crucial Rafah crossing, it will greatly damage Hamas’ claim that it is still ruling Gaza, the source added.
