Israel under huge pressure to accept three-stage ceasefire agreed by Hamas
by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor from World news | The Guardian on (#6MKRS)
Turnaround is likely to redouble calls on Benjamin Netanyahu not to go ahead full-scale offensive on Rafah
Israel is coming under huge diplomatic pressure to accept a three-stage ceasefire surprisingly agreed by Hamas, despite prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's apparent determination to continue with a planned offensive in Rafah.
Netanyahu's office said that the proposal Hamas accepted was far from Israel's essential demands" but that it would nonetheless send negotiators to continue talks on a deal.
At the same time, the Israeli military said it was conducting targeted strikes" against Hamas in eastern Rafah.