Conflict Deferred: Attack on Rafah Possibly Postponed Amid Diplomatic Maneuvers

Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din

Intensive negotiations are underway between Israel and the Palestinians to reach a ceasefire agreement, aiming to avoid further violence and contain tensions in the region. Despite Israel’s readiness to escalate and launch attacks on Hamas positions in Rafah, the situation may be heading towards a compromise that would avert this tragic scenario. In Cairo, Palestinian and Israeli delegations were scheduled to conclude discussions on ceasefire terms on Tuesday, May 7.

Hamas’s flexibility in negotiations is likely a result of Israeli preparations to attack Rafah, and this development may lead to a postponement of the military operation under international pressure, including from the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, all seeking to prevent escalation in the region.

On Tuesday, May 7, Israeli forces achieved a symbolic success by seizing the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli flag was raised. Prior to this, Israeli forces closed the main Salah al-Din road leading to the crossing. Reports indicate clashes resulting in the deaths of several Hamas members, according to Israeli sources. The Israeli military’s spokesperson reported that “IDF ground forces initiated a precise counterterrorism operation overnight based on intelligence to target Hamas operatives and infrastructure in some areas of Rafah.”

These events occur amid ongoing preparations for a new round of talks and ongoing evacuations of civilians from the Rafah area, where more than a million people reside. Israel is relocating civilians to areas under its control in the Gaza Strip, signaling an imminent assault on the city.

Hamas attempted to forestall escalation by announcing its willingness to de-escalate with Israel. An agreement on a ceasefire, approved by Hamas, was published in the Qatari newspaper “Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed.”

The agreement calls for a 42-day ceasefire period, during which a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel is expected. As part of this agreement, 33 detainees, including women, children, the elderly, the wounded, and the sick, are expected to be released by Hamas. Hamas pledged to hand over the bodies of detainees killed, but not all, unless there are not enough living detainees. A significant number of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.