Following the October 7 attacks, Israel suspended visa and work permit renewals for numerous aid workers providing vital aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
The United States and its allies struck multiple targets in Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas on Saturday, responding to an increase in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed militants.
Prime Minister Netanyahu says plans for Rafah civilians will be drawn up soon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would prepare an “action plan” to remove civilians from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip ahead of an offensive to “dismantle” the remaining Hamas battalions.
“There is no disagreement between me and the United States about the need to evacuate our people,” Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS. Let's face the nation.
Israel did not need “prompts” from the United States to protect civilians in Gaza, he added. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the plan includes a way to “dismantle” remaining Hamas battalions.
Israeli leaders said those currently in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, would be directed north. “There is room for them to go north of Rafah, where we have already finished fighting,” Netanyahu said.
Much of Gaza has been destroyed by Israeli air and ground bombardment since October, and most of the more than 1 million civilians currently sheltering in Rafah have migrated from the northern region.
Separately, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he could not predict the timeline for an agreement with Hamas to exchange Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Israeli media reported that a breakthrough was reached in talks on Friday, which included an Israeli delegation and representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS that Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, must first retract its “delusional claims,” which it did not specify.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's intense military operation in Rafah could take “several weeks” and that Israel would proceed with the operation with or without a hostage/ceasefire agreement.
Separately on CNN union statusU.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration has made clear that all parties must make every effort to reach a temporary ceasefire.
“We have told everyone, including the Israeli government, that our firm position is that we will make every effort to reach this agreement and move forward from there,” Sullivan said.
Israel has been attacking Hamas in the Gaza Strip for nearly five months, killing about 30,000 people in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry. Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Gaza is becoming increasingly desperate.
Since the Israeli operation began after an October 7 attack by Hamas operatives in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 250, 18 of Hamas's 24 battalions have been destroyed.
Israel denies visas to aid groups working with Palestinians
Following the October 7 attacks, Israel suspended visa and work permit renewals for numerous aid workers providing vital aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Faris Allouri, director of the umbrella group Association of International Development Agencies (Aida), said those who are prohibited from entering include national directors and emergency response teams, as well as those working in the West Bank and those responsible for coordination in the Gaza Strip. This includes senior executives and other expatriate employees.
AIDA's members include Oxfam, Action Against Hunger, Amnesty International, CARE International and Catholic Relief Services.
To date, the Israeli Ministry of Welfare has played a key role in recommending these visas. But ministry spokesperson Gil Horev said the ministry felt it did not have the capacity to conduct the necessary background checks and had asked the Prime Minister's Office to designate another agency.
The Prime Minister's Office has asked the National Security Council to find the best way forward, but said this could take time.
“That's a big bottleneck for organizations,” Arouri said. “As of October 7, Israeli authorities stopped issuing work visas, so more than 60% of humanitarian workers abroad have had their visas expire in the past few weeks.”
Gerald Steinberg is a former Israeli political scientist. NGO monitorA group aiming to expose nonprofits that work against Israel said some of the organizations in question were anti-Israel and it was time to no longer automatically renew their presence.
“On October 7th, the rules changed and Israel does more than just issue visas,” he said. “Many of these groups have promoted Palestinian victimhood and Israeli aggression.”
Three aid workers from major international organizations said their work permits had not been recently renewed. As a result, they are forced to choose between leaving Israel or remaining in the country without working.
US and allies step up attacks on Houthi targets after surge in attacks
The United States and its allies on Saturday responded to an increase in attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed militants, striking multiple targets in Yemen's Houthi-controlled areas.
Strikes against 18 Houthi strongholds in 8 locations Broadest announcement since February 3rdThis is new evidence that Yemen-based insurgents are engaged in a long-running battle with the United States and its allies. Targets include underground weapons storage sites, missile storage facilities, air defense systems, and unidirectional attack unmanned aircraft systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.
“The United States will not hesitate to take action as necessary to protect lives and free commerce in one of the world's most important waterways,” said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Despite repeated attacks by the US, UK and their partners since mid-January, the Houthis have ostensibly used naval and commercial shipping in the Red Sea as a way to pressure Israel to end its war against Hamas in Gaza. continues to attack. The attack contributed to a rise in oil prices, with Brent crude rising to $84 a barrel last week, disrupting trade through the southern Red Sea.
read more: Iran-backed Houthis prepare for long Red Sea battle with US
Yemen's capital Sanaa was also among the locations targeted on Saturday, with residents reporting large explosions.
Supporting Saturday's strike were Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
Gaza ceasefire negotiations: breakthrough in concessions
Israeli media reported that talks on the Gaza ceasefire in Paris on Friday, which included an Israeli delegation and representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar, had led to a breakthrough.
The talks “went very well and we made real progress.” Haaretz The story was reported as being about an unidentified person. The status of the talks could not be independently confirmed.
Based on the progress seen so far, the parties could present Hamas with an updated framework for an agreement to exchange Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel in the near future, according to the report. Dew.
said an anonymous diplomat. Haaretz “All parties have shown flexibility and an agreement could be reached even before Ramadan begins on the night of March 10,” he said.
Separately, Saudi Arabia's Asharq network reported that Hamas had softened some of its key demands over a potential hostage release deal. According to the network, Hamas appears willing to accept an initial six-week ceasefire rather than a permanent one. times of Israel.
read more: The World Bank says the Palestinian economy has been devastated by the war.
Axios reported on Saturday that Hamas would offer to release about 40 hostages in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of “hundreds” of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. DM