As fighting intensifies in Rafah, Biden blames Hamas for ceasefire delay

Israeli helicopters attacked Refah In Gaza on Thursday, residents said, and militants reported street fighting in the southern city as US President Joe Biden He described Hamas as the “biggest obstacle” to a second ceasefire.

Tensions also rose along Israel’s northern border with more attacks by Hamas’s Lebanese affiliate. Hezbollah, Against military posts.

Israeli ground forces have been in action in Rafah since early May, despite widespread concern over the fate of Palestinian civilians and a truce there. International Court of Justice That same month.

Residents said there was heavy gunfire in western areas of Rafah on Thursday.

“There was very intense gunfire from fighter jets, Apache (helicopters) and quadcopters as well as artillery and Israeli warships hitting the area west of Rafah,” one told the agency. AFP.

Hamas said its fighters were battling Israeli troops in the streets of the city near the besieged border of the Gaza Strip Egypt.

In ItalyAt the G7 summit, Biden called Hamas “by far the biggest obstacle” to an agreement on a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages.

“I have presented a vision that has been supported by the UN Security Council, the G7, Israel, and the biggest obstacle so far is that Hamas He refused to sign it even though he was presented with something similarhe told reporters.

“It remains to be seen whether it will be successful or not,” he added.

The war began after Hamas’ unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The militants also took 251 hostages. 116 of them remain in Gaza, However, the army says that 41 people have died.

Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,232 people, mostly civilians, in Gaza, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry.

When efforts to reach a ceasefire stalled Israel begins a ground operation in Rafah, But Biden launched a new effort to secure an agreement in late May.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution backing the plan, and on Thursday German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said G7 leaders “called in particular on Hamas to give the necessary consent.”

Some Gazans have also called on Hamas to do more to secure the agreement.

“What are you waiting for? The war must end at any cost.” A man named Abu Shaker said.

Secretary of State of the United States of America, Anthony BlinkenPromoting Biden’s roadmap in Doha on Wednesday, the bloc said Washington would work with regional partners to “get the deal done.”

The plan includes the first ceasefire in Gaza since a week-long pause in November A six-week ceasefire, an exchange of hostages and prisoners, and the rebuilding of Gaza.

Hamas responded to mediators Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday night. Blinken said some of the proposed amendments were “feasible and some were not feasible.”

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdansaid the group demanded a “permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal” of Israeli troops from Gaza, a demand repeatedly rejected by Israel.

Blinken said Israel was behind the plan, but Israeli Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu Whose far-right government allies are strongly opposed to the deal and have not publicly supported it.

In Jerusalem, a protest led by students near Israel’s parliament urged the government to secure a hostage release agreement.

As protesters marched with photos of some of the hostages, one banner read, “Stop shooting now.”

(With information from AFP)