Foreign media: Israel demands to separate ceasefire agreement from Rafah operation

On May 9, according to NBC coverage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli army will enter Rafah regardless of whether a deal is reached with Hamas. According to multiple U.S. officials familiar with the negotiations, Israel has demanded that the Rafah operation be isolated from the ceasefire agreement. The Netanyahu government refuses to agree to a deal unless it can move forward with the military operation in Rafah, even during the ceasefire, officials said. An Israeli official denied such claims, quoting Israeli Defense Minister Gallant as saying recently, "This operation will continue until we eliminate Hamas in the Rafah area and the entire Gaza Strip, or until the first hostage returns." According to the White House's interpretation of the content of the conversation between the two, Biden reiterated his opposition to attacking Rafa on the phone with Netanyahu.