Report: Israel informed Egypt - we will soon enter Rafah to release hostages

 Israel Notifies Egypt of Planned Incursion into Rafah for Hostage Release

Israeli authorities have informed Egyptian counterparts of their intention to conduct "targeted operations" within the Palestinian territory of Rafah, as reported by Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper. 

This marks the first communication of such intent between Israel and Egypt, with Israel emphasizing limited and specific actions aimed at freeing hostages ahead of any broader military incursion. 

Egypt, meanwhile, continues to caution against entering Rafah without considering the welfare of the 1.5 million Gazans residing near the border.

According to the report, Israel assured Egypt that its forces (IDF) would be stationed along the border but would refrain from entering the Philadelphia axis. Following Israel's notification, Egyptian officials promptly reached out to their American counterparts, who affirmed their commitment to preventing any extensive entry into Rafah without safeguards for civilian populations.

Sources within Egypt suggest that the United States has signaled approval for Israel's proposed "targeted operations," possibly involving aerial engagement and troop deployment to rescue hostages reportedly situated among civilians in Rafah. Concurrently, Cairo speculates that leaking information regarding these plans is a strategic move to exert pressure on Hamas during ongoing indirect negotiations facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

Recent reports in Politico indicate that the United States would endorse a military intervention in Rafah, provided it undergoes modifications to ensure a more localized and precise approach rather than a broad-scale invasion. The core message conveyed is that American support for Israel's operation hinges on avoiding extensive civilian casualties and widespread destruction, factors that could jeopardize ongoing backing for Israel.

Despite over 100 days of unified efforts in the conflict, divisions within Israel are beginning to emerge, evidenced by ongoing surveys conducted by the Hebrew University's Department of Psychology to gauge public sentiment and analyze voting patterns.