Israel’s limited operation in Rafah is aimed at maintaining pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal, sources said

Israel’s limited operation in Rafah is aimed at maintaining pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal, sources said

Israel’s limited operation into Rafah is aimed at maintaining pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal that would lead to a ceasefire and the release of hostages, a source familiar with Israel’s plans told CNN.

Israel informed the US of plans to evacuate areas east of Rafah and conduct operations ahead of Monday’s call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the source said.

The source described the operation as “very limited” and said it was not the larger incursion into Rafah that Israel had been openly calling for for weeks.

Some context: An Israeli airstrike killed multiple people in Rafah early Tuesday, Palestinian officials said, after Israel reiterated its commitment to the offensive in southern Gaza, saying the terms of the ceasefire answered by Hamas were “far from” meeting its demands. Israel will send a delegation for further talks, which Qatar says will resume Tuesday.