Israel's planned military offensive on the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip will therefore very likely not begin before Ramadan, according to a report by an Israeli newspaper. An attack on Rafah during Ramadan could be seen as particularly provocative by Muslims across the region.
US officials are also confident about a humanitarian break before Ramadan. There is "great hope" for an early agreement on the release of the hostages held by Hamas in return for a break in fighting, two Democratic US senators said.