Rafah Invasion Will Scupper Talks On Hostages, Hamas Warns Israel

Hamas on Sunday warned that any Israeli offensive in Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah would scupper talks about the release of hostages seized in the October 7 attacks.

"Any attack by the occupation army on the city of Rafah would undermine the exchange negotiations," a leader in the Palestinian militant group told AFP as Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to extend operations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he had told troops to prepare to go into the city, as part of its aim to destroy Hamas for mounting the deadly attacks on southern Israel.

But he has faced growing calls not to attack Rafah, on the border with Egypt, the last refuge for Gazans fleeing Israel's relentless bombardment elsewhere in the coastal territory.

Foreign governments, including Israel's main ally the United States, and humanitarian aid groups have voiced deep concern about the impact on displaced civilians.