Rafah Attack News Today

Hamas negotiators began intensified talks on Saturday on a possible Gaza truce that would see the return to Israel of some hostages, a Hamas official told Reuters, with the CIA director present in Cairo.

The premature Palestinian baby, Sabreen Jouda, rescued from her mothers womb, after the woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike, died in a Gaza hospital

Israeli forces are reportedly fully prepared to initiate an assault on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, pending government approval.

Rafah, which abuts the Egyptian border, is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled the half-year-old Israeli offensive through the rest of Gaza and say the prospect of fleeing yet again is terrifying.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to visit Egypts border with Gaza on Saturday, following Israels announcement that it would send troops to fight Hamas in Rafah, even without US support. Despite warnings that such an invasion would cause mass civilian casualties and worsen the humanitarian crisis, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he must press ahead with the attack.

Israel and Hamas have played down chances of an imminent breakthrough in talks for a cease-fire in Gaza, after US President Joe Biden said Israel has agreed to pause its offensive during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Middle East News: European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls on the United States and its allies to cease arms supply to Israel in the wake of the Rafah attack. Learn more about the escalating humanitarian crisis and the international community's response.