JERUSALEM – The Israeli Prime Minister’s office has denied reports of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the evacuation of foreign nationals to neighbouring Egypt.
The Israeli army, however, has pledged not to target routes designated for evacuating people from Gaza’s north to south during specific hours.
Media reports suggested that Israel, Egypt, and the United States had reached an agreement to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for several hours on Monday to facilitate the evacuation of foreign nationals and the entry of aid goods.
But in a statement, Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office clarified, “There is currently no ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza in return for removing foreigners.”
Aid convoys have remained on the Egyptian side, awaiting the green light, but as of Monday, they had not left the town of El-Arish, located approximately 25 miles east of Rafah.
The Israeli military announced earlier that it would avoid targeting two designated routes in Gaza meant to allow residents to move south and out of the way of a potential ground offensive.
Avichay Adraee, a military spokesman, stated on social media, “The IDF (Israe-li Defense Forces) will refrain from targeting the designated axis from 8:00 am until 12:00.”
Jonathan Conricus, another military spokesman, assured that these roads “would be safe to use” during this timeframe.
The recent escalation in violence started with a surprise attack by Hamas militants in Gaza on southern Israeli communities on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 casualties.
In retaliation, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed the lives of around 2,750 Palestinians, leaving roughly 9,700 people injured.
The UN agency responsible for supporting Palestinian refugees estimates that approximately one million individuals have been displaced within Gaza.
Israel has also conducted air strikes in the southern parts of Gaza, including the areas of Khan Yunis and Rafah.
As the situation in Gaza remains tense, reports on potential ceasefires and evacuation plans continue to emerge, while both Israelis and Palestinians endure the consequences of the conflict.
