Netanyahu gives green light to Rafah attack plan as aid ship reaches Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for an attack on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, where more than 1 million people displaced from elsewhere in the territory have sought shelter, officials in Israel have said.

- Jason Burke

The decision was taken as a ship towing a barge loaded with food arrived offGaza in a test run for a new aid route by sea from Cyprus into the devastated Palestinian territory, where famine looms after five months of Israel’s military campaign.

The Rafah decision will provoke deep concern around the world.

Any attack on the city is likely to cause significant civilian casualties and worsen an already acute humanitarian crisis across the territory.

Germany’s foreign affairs minister, Annalena Baerbock , posted on X: “A large-scale offensive in Rafah cannot be justified. Over a million refugees have sought protection there and have nowhere to go. A humanitarian truce is needed immediately so that more people don’t die and the hostages are finally released.”

Netanyahu’s decision was taken after an urgent meeting of Israel’s war cabinet, called to discuss a new proposal from Hamas for a ceasefire.

As a first stage, Hamas has proposed releasing the Israeli women, children, elderly and sick people it is holding hostage , in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners .

The militant Islamist organisation seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages when it launched a surprise attack into Israel in October, killing a bout 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

A bout half of the hostages were released during a week-long truce in November but Israel believes about 130 of the captives remain in Gaza and that 32 of them are dead.

The Hamas proposal, which came after talks were stalled for about 10 days, appears to allow a definitive end to hostilities to be scheduled after, rather than before, a first 40-day ceasefire, a significant concession by Hamas.