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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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Ronen Zvulun / REUTERS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for a military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, according to his office.
In addition to the operational deployment, the army is preparing to evacuate the civilian population, said the statement, which several news agencies reported unanimously.
The proposals for a hostage deal made by the terrorist organization Hamas are unrealistic.
However, Israel will send a delegation to Qatar to present its position for a possible agreement.
Numerous people have fled the fighting in the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Israel suspects there is a stronghold of Hamas fighters there and has already attacked the city from the air in recent days.
After Hamas's attack on Israel, Netanyahu stated that the goal was to destroy Hamas.
Hamas announced on Thursday that it had presented a new proposal.
Among other things, this provides for an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip, aid deliveries to the population and the release of people kidnapped from Israel in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
However, the Islamists continue to demand a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the coastal area, which Israel rejects.
Top international politicians reject an operation in Rafah out of concern for the well-being of the civilian population.
Politicians and aid organizations are demanding plans from Israel as to how and where the approximately 1.5 million people from the Rafah region will be brought to safety before a military operation.
On October 7, terrorists from Hamas and other groups abducted around 250 people to the Gaza Strip as part of a massacre in Israel.
During a ceasefire in late November, 105 hostages were released.
According to government figures, around 100 hostages are still alive.
sol/dpa/Reuters