Lara Villalón Istanbul

Istanbul

Updated Friday, March 15, 2024-15:20

The cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light to the

ground offensive in Rafah

, south of the Gaza Strip, where

more than a million Palestinians displaced

from other parts of the enclave remain crowded.

The measure has been approved in a meeting of the war cabinet,

despite international calls

to stop the operation, including from the US president himself,

Joe Biden

, who described the military advance as a

"red line"

.

"The IDF (army) has prepared for the operational part and for the evacuation of the civilian population," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated this week that the invasion of Rafah

is "something we have to do"

and that it will happen "when conditions allow."

Hagari noted that the displaced population in Rafah would be moved

to "humanitarian enclaves" in Gaza

, although

he did not give details of the exact locations

or how the resettlement of the refugee population will be carried out.

For months, the city of Rafah, a town of 200,000 inhabitants bordering Egypt, has hosted 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from other parts of the Strip.

Most

survive in tents

and food and basic health products have been in short supply for weeks.

Humanitarian organizations fear that their resettlement will further deteriorate their living conditions, since in the north of the Palestinian enclave the humanitarian situation is even more fragile.

Egyptian President

Abdel

Fattah el Sisi warned this Friday about "the danger of an invasion in the city of Rafah" and

the "expansion of the scope of the war

. "

Cairo has accelerated diplomatic contacts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, fearing that an offensive next to its border could push thousands of Palestinians into its territory.

The Israeli announcement

coincides with a new Hamas proposal

to achieve a truce, which includes the

delivery of hostages

in exchange for the

release of 100 Palestinian prisoners

imprisoned in Israel.

The ceasefire proposal would last

42 days

and specific prisoners chosen by Hamas would be released.

"As for the hostages, Hamas' demands remain delusional. The Israeli delegation will leave for Doha (this Friday) after the war cabinet discusses Israel's position," Netanyahu's office said.

The Hostage Families Forum, which has been pressuring the Israeli government to reach a deal, has been quick to call on Netanyahu to reach a truce deal.

"For the first time, we can imagine hugging them again, please grant us this right," they said in a statement.