Israel closes crossings into Gaza after taking 'operational control' over Rafah checkpoint | DW News

A team of Israeli officials has arrived in Cairo to continue to assess the truce deal accepted by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Meanwhile, his War Cabinet has approved a military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, he added. "The War Cabinet has unanimously decided that Israel is continuing the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to advance the release of our hostages and the other objectives of the war," a statement from Netanyahu’s office said. He added that efforts to secure a cease-fire would continue, and that Israel would send a delegation to meet with negotiators to try and reach an agreement. His comments came after Hamas announced it had accepted a truce deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it was striking Hamas targets in eastern Rafah after issuing evacuation orders to thousands of the city's residents earlier in the day.

The US has been told that the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza will reopen on Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said. UN and other international aid agencies said closing the two crossings into southern Gaza, Rafah and Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom, had effectively cut off the enclave from outside aid. The White House called the closure of border crossings into Gaza "unacceptable."

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