Israel Denies Reports Of Gaza Ceasefire As Many Wait At Rafah Border

As hundreds queue up at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and war-hit Gaza Strip, Israel has denied reports that it has agreed to a ceasefire to let Gaza residents escape into Egypt.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has denied reports of Tel Aviv agreeing to any such ceasefire plan, news agency AFP reported this afternoon.

This comes amid reports that Israel, US and Egypt have agreed to a ceasefire plan under which Israel will pause its attack and Egypt will open the border crossing to let Gaza civilians escape.

Ever since the Hamas attacks in Israel last weekend, which left 1,300 dead, Israel has launched an all-attack attack on Hamas’ stronghold Gaza. Following airstrikes in the densely-populated Strip that have already claimed about 2,670 lives, Tel Aviv is now prepping for a ground offensive to free hostages taken by Hamas and target its leaders who planned the attack.

Gaza is a narrow strip of land that has the Mediterranean Sea to its west, Israel to its east and north, and Egypt to its southwest. The Strip, which is under Israel’s close surveillance, has two exits – Erez Crossing into Israel and Rafah Crossing with Egypt. Gaza has no airport. Israel controls its airspace and its waters too.

Voices across the world have expressed concerns over the human cost of the war in Gaza, which has a population of about 2 million. Israel had earlier asked Gaza city residents to move towards the south of the Strip to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The UN has opposed the mass relocation order, flagging the “devastating humanitarian consequences” such a mass movement could have.

Following the Hamas attacks on Israel, the borders to both Israel and Egypt had been shut, leaving Gaza residents with no escape route.

Earlier, NBC News had reported that the Rafah crossing may open for a short while to let foreign nationals escape into Egypt.

US Secretary of State Antony has said that he has spoken to Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Rafah crossing will be reopened for reaching humanitarian aid to people in Gaza.

“With regard to Rafah, I had a very good conversation with President El-Sisi. We have put in place – Egypt has put in place a lot of material support for people in Gaza. And Rafah will be reopened. We’re putting in place with the United Nations, with Egypt, with Israel, with others, a mechanism by which to get the assistance in and to get it to people who need it,” Mr Blinken said.

There is, however, little clarity on when the border crossing will be opened.

The US Embassy in Israel has said residents hoping to move from Gaza through the Rafah crossing might receive “very little notice” if it opens,