Free Republic

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded that Israel end its military operation in Rafah, less than a day after the IDF launched an operation to destroy the final four Hamas battalions in Gaza. "I am disturbed & distressed by the renewed military activity in Rafah by the Israeli Defence Forces," Guterres wrote on X today (Tuesday). "I urge the Government of Israel to stop any escalation, and engage constructively in the ongoing diplomatic talks." .....

The New York Times has confirmed that on Monday night, the Hamas terror group proposed a counteroffer for a ceasefire-prisoner swap deal, and did not "agree" to the deal approved by both Israel and the US. Nevertheless, the counteroffer - though not deemed acceptable - was seen by the US as a sign of progress. The New York Times stressed that Israel's strikes in Rafah were "retaliation for Hamas rocket attacks that killed four Israeli soldiers," and a way to pressure Hamas, but did not constitute the strike that US President Joe Biden was warning against. Biden is still insisting...

Despite warnings by President Joe Biden, and criticism from former President Donald Trump, a new poll has found a broad consensus among American Jews, including those who support the current President, in support of an Israeli operation in Rafah to eliminate Hamas. The March edition of the monthly Kol Haam: Voice of the People Survey, by the Jewish People Policy Institute, found that among respondents intending to vote for Biden, seven out of ten believe that Israel should enter Rafah. The only cohorts with a significant percentage against entering Rafah were those who identified as “strong liberal” (26%) and Jews...

Saudi media reports that Israel has information and assessments that indicate that Hamas leaders have escaped into Egypt. The potential fugitives include both Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed as well as other senior figures in the organization. The fugitives are thought to have escaped along with other Hamas officials through tunnels between Rafah and Sinai. Along with the fear that top Hamas officials have escaped Israeli forces, there is a growing concern that they have taken Israeli hostages... video