Bibi: Israel Has Date to Enter Rafah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that the Israel Defense Forces are planning to enter Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip. This move comes amidst ongoing negotiations aimed at freeing approximately 130 people held captive by terrorists in Gaza.

Despite these plans, the United States has repeatedly cautioned Israel against invading Rafah, citing the presence of multiple Hamas battalions in the area.

Netanyahu disclosed that he received a report on hostage negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday. However, the exact date for the Rafah invasion remains unclear, following the recent withdrawal of all ground troops from southern Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces on Sunday.

In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu emphasized, "We are working constantly to attain our objectives, first and foremost the release of all of our hostages and the achieving of total victory over Hamas."

He further stated, "This victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen; there is a date."

The hostages have been in captivity since October 7, 2023, stemming from an incident where Hamas and other terror groups infiltrated Israel, resulting in casualties and kidnappings.

Despite some progress, with around 100 hostages freed during a temporary ceasefire last year, negotiations for a new ceasefire deal have been ongoing for several months.

According to reports, CIA Director Bill Burns presented a proposal in Cairo on Sunday, suggesting the release of 40 hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire, as reported by Axios.