Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli soldiers in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, stressing the importance of the city’s control for the war’s next phase. Netanyahu stated, “The military pressure exerted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Hamas helps us stand firm on our rightful demands and support the prisoner agreement.” He emphasized that this pressure is crucial for advancing the agreement and plans to outline Israel’s war justification in an upcoming speech to the US Congress. Netanyahu assured the troops that “Israel will achieve victory.”
Egyptian media reports that ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are set to resume next week. Israel is awaiting Hamas’s response to the ceasefire offer.
Israeli and US delegations, who were in Doha for negotiations, have returned home for consultations. The current agreement being discussed includes the exchange of hostages and prisoners, with plans for further talks on a permanent ceasefire and the release of additional hostages.
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