Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Ayman Al-Safadi, discussed in a phone call today the recent escalation in Gaza and the Palestinian city of Rafah.
The two ministers stressed the need to stop the Israeli military escalation. They added that it is dangerous for Israel to control the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing and halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip.
Israeli military has controlled the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing, Israeli officials said, reported Guardian.
Israel told Palestinians in many areas in eastern Rafah to leave to the west and north of city.
Aid officials that aid flow to Gaza through the crossing has came to a halt as a result of the recent escalation in Gaza.
“The closure of both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings is especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation. They must be reopened immediately,” António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, said.
Hours before Israel’s offence on Rafah begins, Hamas leader announced that they would accept a recent ceasefire deal. Hamas says it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal to halt seven-month war with Israel. Hamas issued a statement Monday saying its supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had delivered the news in a phone call with Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence minister.
There was no immediate comment from Israel. President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to keep him informed about the status of cease-fire talks which were ongoing in Doha, Qatar, earlier in the day, according to the White House.
Recent Egyptian and Hamas statements suggest a phased cease-fire plan. Hamas would release hostages as Israel withdraws troops from Gaza. It’s uncertain if this meets Hamas’ demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
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