Given the recent crisis in the talks, Israel was taken aback by Hamas’ revelation that it welcomes the proposed cease-fire accord. The political establishment in Israel is refuting the blatantly untrue allegations that US President Joe Biden has turned his back on Israel. Additionally, the IDF is stepping up its military pressure and conducting operations east of Rafah as Jerusalem continues to send delegates to Egypt.
When Hamas declared on Monday night that it had agreed to the mediators’ plan for a captive exchange, Israel was taken aback. The negotiations had seemed to be on the verge of complete collapse during the last few days. Around 100,000 Palestinians were ordered to leave their houses on Rafah’s eastern borders earlier on Monday by the Israel Defense Forces, ostensibly in advance of the much-discussed invasion of the city. But then Hamas made a U-turn and informed the mediators in Qatar and Egypt of its decision. First stage of the arrangement calls for the release of several hundred Palestinian inmates and a cease-fire in exchange for the release of 33 of the 132 Israeli hostages that Hamas still holds, one of whom is believed to be alive.