Israel-Gaza updates: Kerem Shalom crossing closed to aid after rockets fired from Rafah, IDF says
The IDF said several people were injured Sunday.
As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.
Latest headlines:
Israel will not send delegation to Cairo until Hamas responds to offer: Source
Israel will not send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations on a cease-fire deal until Hamas provides an answer to the proposal Israel has offered them, an Israeli source told ABC News.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller
White House stays mum on Netanyahu's remarks on Rafah plans
White House national security spokesman John Kirby declined to comment about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest comments about a possible operation into Rafah during a news conference Tuesday.
"Our position on Rafah is absolutely the same. We don't want to see a major ground operation in Rafah. Certainly, we don't want to see operations that haven't factored in the safety and security of those 1.5 million folks trying to seek refuge down there," Kirby said.
He also declined to say if Netanyahu has shared his plans to enter Rafah with or without a deal directly with the United States.
"They understand our concerns, and those concerns have not changed," he said, adding that they have not seen a credible plan yet from Israel to take civilian safety into consideration though conversations continue.
Kirby reiterated that the new cease-fire deal is on the table, which would give a six-week pause in fighting and help get the hostages home.
Kirby downplayed expectations, but stressed "time is of the essence."
"I wouldn't say we're overly confident. I would say we're being very pragmatic about this," he said.
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Netanyahu says Israel has 'no other choice' but to conduct Rafah operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an operation in Rafah will proceed in comments Tuesday.
"We will enter Rafah because we have no other choice," Netanyahu said in comments translated from Hebrew. "We will destroy the Hamas battalions there, we will complete all the objectives of the war, including the repatriation of all our hostages."
No timeline has been given for a military operation in Rafah, where over 1 million refugees have gathered in the wake of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The prime minister also criticized the International Criminal Court, saying it "has no authority over the state of Israel." The ICC is currently investigating Israel's actions in Gaza, as well as the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that launched the Israeli response.
"The possibility that it will issue arrest warrants for war crimes against IDF commanders and state leaders, this possibility is a scandal on a historical scale," Netanyahu said.
He added, "I want to make one thing clear: no decision, neither in The Hague nor anywhere else, will harm our determination to achieve all the goals of the war."
-ABC News' Jordana Miller
Hamas delegation leaves Cairo, will return with response to Israeli proposal: Egyptian official
The Hamas delegation has left Cairo and will return again with a written response to Israel’s proposal for a truce and hostage-release deal, a senior Egyptian government official told ABC News.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy
US briefed on initial plan for evacuations before Rafah invasion: Official
The U.S. has been briefed on some of the Israeli plans for humanitarian evacuations from Gaza ahead of a Rafah operation, an official with knowledge told ABC News.
The official stressed this is not a final plan.
-ABC News' Selina Wang