Israel is committed to fighting on in Rafah

As last week drew to a close, it seemed that the intense efforts of Egyptian and American mediators might result in a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel being reached. Then on Saturday, a ‘high ranking source in the Israeli government’ announced that Israel would invade Rafah whether a deal was reached or not, meaning an agreement would only delay an operation into Hamas’s last stronghold.

In response, Hamas hardened their position. They demanded further guarantees from mediators that the deal would lead to a permanent ceasefire allowing the terrorist organisation to keep control over Gaza and to continue attacking Israel.

Yesterday, negotiations collapsed with both sides blaming each other. It’s entirely possible that Hamas never intended to sign a deal with Israel. They may have been relying on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do what he usually does – self-sabotage – so they could blame him when the negotiations collapsed.