Israel-Gaza updates: 300,000 have fled Rafah, UN agency says
Israel called again on Saturday for civilians to leave parts of the city.
As the Israel-Hamas war crosses 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 Gazan town of Rafah.
Latest headlines:
- White House National Security Advisor speaks to Israeli counterpart, expresses concern over pending Rafah invasion
- 300,000 have fled Rafah, UN agency says
- Biden admin says it's 'reasonable to assess' Israel violated International law with US arms
- Hamas says cease-fire talks are 'back to square one'
- UNGA passes resolution calling on Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership
'We are at a critical stage right now' in negotiations, NSC spokesperson says
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the U.S. is reviewing the Hamas response to a cease-fire proposal.
Kirby did not reveal many specifics about where negotiations stand, but said they’ve reached a “critical stage.”
“I don't know that it gets any more sensitive than right now,” Kirby said. “And the worst thing that we can do start speculating about what's in it.”
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Israeli army continues attacks in Rafah even as delegation sent to negotiate cease-fire
With negotiations underway for a cease-fire agreement, Israel’s war cabinet said they would continue military operations in Rafah.
Israel will also send a delegation of mediators to work on a possible deal.
There have been at least 50 IDF strikes Monday on Rafah, officials said.
Israel has received response from Hamas on cease-fire proposal
A senior Israeli official with knowledge of negotiations said they have received a response from Hamas on a cease-fire proposal.
It is not the same proposal that had been under discussion, the official said, adding that it will now be studied.
It will take some time before Israel officially responds, the official added.
Israel’s war cabinet is now holding a discussion, according to an Israeli political source.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israel will study every option to bring home hostages, including the latest response from Hamas, and said they would continue operations in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the Israeli Hostage Center urged the government to accept the deal. "We welcome the announcement by Hamas to promote the ceasefire, which promotes the return of the 132 abductees who have been held captive by Hamas for 7 months," it said. "Now is the time for the Israeli government to prove in action its commitment to its citizens -- the cabinet must take the consent of Hamas and turn it into a deal for the return of all! The return of the kidnapped is the key to Israeli security!"
-ABC News' Jordana Miller and William Gretsky
US still trying to get full understanding of deal Hamas has accepted
The United States said it could confirm Hamas had issued a response to a recent cease-fire proposal, but is still trying to figure out the details of the apparent deal.
"We are reviewing that response now and discussing it with our partners in the region," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing. "As you know, [CIA] Director [Bill] Burns is in the region working on this in real time. We will be discussing this response with our partners over the coming hours. We continue to believe that they asked them to do what is in the best interest of the Israeli people."
But Miller didn’t suggest the U.S. had a full understanding of exactly what Hamas had agreed to yet.
"We have only received a response in the last hour, 90 minutes," he said. "So I don't want to characterize the nature of that just yet."
Miller also declined to say whether the U.S. believes the military and political factions of Hamas were on the same page.
"I'm just not going to speak for Hamas at all, as we have said for some time, there has been a significant offer on the table. The ball has been in Hamas’ court, we have made clear that they should accept that offer," he said.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Crawford
White House National Security Advisor speaks to Israeli counterpart, expresses concern over pending Rafah invasion
In a phone call Sunday with his Israeli counterpart, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed an "ironclad U.S. commitment" to Israel but also voiced the Biden administration's concerns about Israel's major military operations in Gaza, according to the White House.
During the call with Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, Sullivan reiterated President Joe Biden's "longstanding concerns over the potential for a major military ground operation into Rafah, where over one million people have taken shelter," according to a readout of the call that was released by the White House.
"He [Sullivan] discussed alternative courses of action to ensure the defeat of Hamas everywhere in Gaza," the readout said. "Mr. Hanegbi confirmed that Israel is taking U.S. concerns into account."
The White House said Sullivan also expressed condolences on Israel's Memorial Day, the first since Hamas' surprise Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, according to Israel's Prime Minister's Office.
Sullivan and Hanegbi also reviewed discussions by officials on both sides of the war about alternatives for a Rafah invasion and agreed to plan an in-person meeting soon, according to the White House.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart