“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated today that “Hamas’ [ceasefire] proposal is far from Israel's essential demands,” after Hamas announced its acceptance of the proposal put forward by Qatari and Egyptian mediators yesterday.

"Yesterday's proposal aimed to prevent our forces from entering Rafah, and this has not happened,” Netanyahu said, adding that they will “not allow Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities nor regain control in the Gaza Strip.”

The invasion of the Palestinian side of the Rafah Border Crossing yesterday was a “very important step,” according to Netanyahu, and that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) are “on their way to eliminate the four remaining Hamas battalions stationed in Rafah.”

“Entering Rafah serves two main objectives of the war: the return of our hostages and the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu declared. “Our forces have raised the Israeli flags at the Rafah crossing and lowered Hamas flags within hours of the War Council's directives.”