Hamas Says Israel's Ground Attack on Rafah Destroyed Negotiations on Hostage Issues

JAKARTA - The Israeli military's ground attack on the city of Rafah is equivalent to ending hostage negotiations, Al-Aqsa television channel reported on Sunday, citing a Hamas leadership source.

The television reported that a Hamas leadership source said the attack on Rafah would mean the "breakdown" of negotiations that had been going on for weeks.

"Netanyahu is trying to evade the obligations of the (hostage) exchange agreement by carrying out genocide and a new humanitarian disaster in Rafah," Al-Aqsa said, citing a Hamas source, as reported by CNN, February 12.

In a statement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it had directed the military to plan the "evacuation of the population" from Rafah in anticipation of a ground offensive against the city in southern Gaza.

On Saturday, PM Netanyahu asked the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to mobilize reserve troops, as part of preparations for a ground offensive against Rafah, according to local media reports.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was quoted by Channel 13 as saying that the Israeli military was ready to carry out any mission, "but there are political aspects that must be addressed first."

Meanwhile, in an interview with the ABC released on Sunday, PM Netanyahu called Rafah Hamas' "last stronghold" and said Israel was "working on detailed plans", to secure "safe passage" for civilians but provided few details.

It is known that more than one million people live in Rafah, which is the last large area in Gaza that has not been entered by the Israeli military.