The Israel Defense Forces carried out air strikes in Rafah last night and now control the main border crossing with Egypt. The military operation commenced as Hamas offered a counterproposal for a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The international community — including the Biden administration — has been warning Israel against attacking Rafah, where 1.4 million people are sheltering. The World’s Matthew Bell reports that it’s not clear yet if the negotiations aimed at getting a ceasefire in place are dead.
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