Rafah conflict intensifies, Biden blames Hamas for truce delay M Haris

HAMAS: Israeli helicopters targeted Rafah on Friday, according to residents, with militants reporting street battles in this southern Gazan city. Concurrently, US President Joe Biden described Hamas as the primary obstacle to establishing another truce.

Tensions escalated on Israel’s northern border, with attacks from Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, on military sites and an Israeli strike reportedly killing a civilian in Lebanon.

Israeli ground forces have been active in Rafah since early May, sparking global concern for Palestinian civilians and prompting a ruling from the International Court of Justice later that month.

Residents of western Rafah reported severe bombardments on Thursday. “The area west of Rafah faced intense strikes from warplanes, Apache helicopters, quadcopters, artillery, and military battleships,” a local resident informed the media.

Hamas has confirmed that its fighters are engaging Israeli troops on Rafah’s streets, near Gaza’s border with Egypt.

At the G7 summit in Italy, Biden pointed to Hamas as the major stumbling block in negotiations for a Gaza truce and a hostage release. “Hamas’s refusal to agree is the biggest hang-up so far, despite presenting a proposal similar to what’s now on the table,” Biden stated during a press conference.

Efforts for a truce faced setbacks when Israeli ground operations commenced in Rafah, but Biden revived these efforts in late May.

This Monday, the UN Security Council endorsed a US-drafted resolution supporting Biden’s plan. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz echoed the sentiment at the G7 summit, urging Hamas to consent to the proposed truce terms.

Some Gazan residents have also expressed frustration with Hamas. “The war must end at any cost,” urged Abu Shaker, a local.

Biden’s proposed roadmap includes a six-week ceasefire, a hostage-prisoner exchange, and initiatives for Gaza’s reconstruction.

Hamas relayed its response to mediators in Qatar and Egypt, proposing amendments, which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described as partially workable. Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, stated that Hamas is seeking a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, terms Israel has consistently refused.

Despite Israeli backing for Biden’s plan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly committed to it, facing opposition from his far-right government allies.

In Jerusalem, students protested near Israel’s parliament, demanding a deal for the hostages’ release. Demonstrators carried banners, including one stating “Ceasefire now,” and displayed portraits of hostages.