Rafah operation could be suspended if hostage deal is secured, says Israeli foreign minister
Israel-Hamas war
Israel's foreign minister Israel Katz said on Saturday (Apr 27) that if a deal is secured to releaseIsraeli hostages held by Hamas, then a planned incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah could be suspended.
During an interview with local Channel 12 television, Katz said, "The release of the hostages is the top priority for us." On being asked if the priority involved suspending a planned operation to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city of Rafah, Katz answered, "Yes."
"If there will be a deal, we will suspend the operation," he further said.
This comes after Hamas said that it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza City. A senior Hamas officialKhalilal-Hayyasaidthe Palestinian militant group was evaluatingIsrael'sproposal, and"upon completion of its study, it will submit its response".
The officialdidn'tprovideanotherdetailonIsrael'soffer but said it was in response to a proposal from Hamas two weeks ago.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
This development comes as Egypt increased its efforts to secure a deal between Israel and Hamas amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region and calls to prevent an Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Watch:Pro-Palestinian protests spread across US college campuses
Meanwhile,Hezbollah'sDeputy Secretary General Naim Qassem warns that full-scale war will not bring residents of northern Israel home. He said that it will end their presence there"once and for all".
"[Defense Minister Yoav] Gallant threatens us that if wedon’tstop the attacks, he will attack Lebanon to return the residents of the north to their homes,"hesaid,in a statement quoted in Hebrew media.
"Isay to Gallant that this war will not only cause the Zionists to not return to their homes but is likely to end their presence in the northern occupied territories once and for all,"he added.
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)