News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
30
o
Bekaa
28
o
Keserwan
29
o
Metn
29
o
Mount Lebanon
27
o
North
32
o
South
29
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Nharkom Said
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
30
o
Bekaa
28
o
Keserwan
29
o
Metn
29
o
Mount Lebanon
27
o
North
32
o
South
29
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Documentaries
Lebanon’s Centennial
News Bulletin
The Untold History
Talk Show
Series
Sports
Variety
Other
Comedy
Oldies
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Israeli FM: Hostage deal would defer Rafah operation
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-04-28 | 01:12
High views
Share
Share
3
min
Israeli FM: Hostage deal would defer Rafah operation
Israel's foreign minister said on Saturday that a planned incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah could be suspended should a deal emerge to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The comments came as international mediators push for a deal to achieve a ceasefire in the six months of devastating fighting in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 assault that sparked the war.
"The release of the hostages is the top priority for us," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said during an interview with local Channel 12 television.
Asked if that included putting off a planned operation to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city of Rafah, Katz answered, "Yes."
He went on to say: "If there will be a deal, we will suspend the operation."
Though Katz is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, he is not a member of the narrow-forum war cabinet overseeing the Gaza offensive.
Israel, which launched its war to annihilate Hamas after the Islamist group's Oct. 7 attacks on Israeli towns, says Rafah is home to four Hamas combat battalions reinforced by thousands of retreating fighters, and it must defeat them to achieve victory.
But Rafah, which abuts the Egyptian border, is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled the Israeli offensive through the rest of Gaza and say the prospect of fleeing yet again is terrifying.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas said it had received Israel's official response to its latest ceasefire proposal in Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated negotiations and will study it before submitting its reply.
On Thursday, the United States and 17 other countries appealed to Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis.
Hamas wants to parlay any deal into a permanent end to the fighting - short of a formal peace, as the Islamist group is sworn to Israel's destruction. Israel plans to pursue the war until Hamas's governing and military capacities are dismantled.
More than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza captivity, including women and children.
As Hamas issued a new video showing two of the hostages pleading for their release and sending love to their families, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv in protest, demanding that the government do more to secure their release.
Reuters
Israel Gaza War Updates
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Israel
Hamas
Hostage
Israel Katz
Deal
Gaza
War
Next
Palestinian President: Only US can prevent Israeli attack on Rafah
Israeli soldiers kill two Palestinian gunmen in West Bank
Previous
Related Articles
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-05-30
Hamas willing to reach 'complete agreement' including hostages & prisoners exchange deal if Israel halts war: Statement
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-05-30
Hamas willing to reach 'complete agreement' including hostages & prisoners exchange deal if Israel halts war: Statement
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-15
Al-Quds Brigades: The only way to free Israel's hostages is Gaza withdrawal, prisoner deal
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-15
Al-Quds Brigades: The only way to free Israel's hostages is Gaza withdrawal, prisoner deal
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-11
UN: Gaza civilian killings during Israel's freeing of hostages could be war crimes
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-11
UN: Gaza civilian killings during Israel's freeing of hostages could be war crimes
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-03
Israel discovers remains of man near Gaza believed to have been held hostage by Hamas
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2024-06-03
Israel discovers remains of man near Gaza believed to have been held hostage by Hamas
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
14:08
Blinken discusses Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israeli officials
Israel-Gaza War Updates
14:08
Blinken discusses Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israeli officials
0
News Bulletin Reports
12:56
Israel on high alert after Al-Mawasi operation as Netanyahu exploits Trump's assassination attempt in political maneuvering
News Bulletin Reports
12:56
Israel on high alert after Al-Mawasi operation as Netanyahu exploits Trump's assassination attempt in political maneuvering
0
Middle East News
11:40
EU imposes fresh sanctions on 'extremist' Israeli settlers
Middle East News
11:40
EU imposes fresh sanctions on 'extremist' Israeli settlers
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
07:56
Israel launches new Gaza strikes after attacks in safe zone
Israel-Gaza War Updates
07:56
Israel launches new Gaza strikes after attacks in safe zone
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Middle East News
09:58
Bashar al-Assad: Meeting Erdoğan possible if it yields benefits for Syria
Middle East News
09:58
Bashar al-Assad: Meeting Erdoğan possible if it yields benefits for Syria
0
Lebanon News
07:00
Beirut Airport receives approximately 14,000 passengers daily, strong summer tourism season ahead
Lebanon News
07:00
Beirut Airport receives approximately 14,000 passengers daily, strong summer tourism season ahead
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:05
Health alert: Lebanon monitors FLiRTLB1 variant as symptoms spread
News Bulletin Reports
13:05
Health alert: Lebanon monitors FLiRTLB1 variant as symptoms spread
0
Lebanon News
05:26
Fire near Beirut Port caused by waste
Lebanon News
05:26
Fire near Beirut Port caused by waste
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2024-07-11
Hezbollah's Ibrahim Moussawi to CNN: Regional powers do not seek full-scale conflict
Lebanon News
2024-07-11
Hezbollah's Ibrahim Moussawi to CNN: Regional powers do not seek full-scale conflict
0
Lebanon News
2024-07-09
Hezbollah’s "Hudhud" shows new footage of Israeli sites
Lebanon News
2024-07-09
Hezbollah’s "Hudhud" shows new footage of Israeli sites
0
Lebanon News
2024-06-18
Hezbollah scouts areas in northern Israel: What the hoopoe came back with (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-06-18
Hezbollah scouts areas in northern Israel: What the hoopoe came back with (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-06-12
Over 100 rockets launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel (Video)
Lebanon News
2024-06-12
Over 100 rockets launched from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-06-10
Video shows Israeli drone downing in Iqlim al-Tuffah, South Lebanon
Lebanon News
2024-06-10
Video shows Israeli drone downing in Iqlim al-Tuffah, South Lebanon
0
Middle East News
2024-05-21
Funeral ceremony of the Iranian president begins in Tabriz (Video)
Middle East News
2024-05-21
Funeral ceremony of the Iranian president begins in Tabriz (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2024-05-14
Exclusive LBCI interview: Canadian FM urges ceasefire and Resolution 1701 adherence in Lebanon talks, discusses Canadian support for LAF, UNIFIL
Lebanon News
2024-05-14
Exclusive LBCI interview: Canadian FM urges ceasefire and Resolution 1701 adherence in Lebanon talks, discusses Canadian support for LAF, UNIFIL
0
Lebanon News
2024-04-30
University Students Organize Solidarity Protest for Palestine (VIDEO)
Lebanon News
2024-04-30
University Students Organize Solidarity Protest for Palestine (VIDEO)
0
Lebanon News
2019-02-28
Pierre el-Daher, the man who defeated the Lebanese Forces
Lebanon News
2019-02-28
Pierre el-Daher, the man who defeated the Lebanese Forces
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
Middle East News
12:09
Prominent businessman tied to Syrian regime, Baraa Qatirji, killed in Israeli strike near Lebanon-Syria border: Here’s what you need to know about him
Middle East News
12:09
Prominent businessman tied to Syrian regime, Baraa Qatirji, killed in Israeli strike near Lebanon-Syria border: Here’s what you need to know about him
2
Lebanon News
07:00
Beirut Airport receives approximately 14,000 passengers daily, strong summer tourism season ahead
Lebanon News
07:00
Beirut Airport receives approximately 14,000 passengers daily, strong summer tourism season ahead
3
Lebanon News
14:26
Breaking: Israeli strike kills three family members in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon
Lebanon News
14:26
Breaking: Israeli strike kills three family members in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon
4
Lebanon News
04:33
Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Sidon, Tyre, and Al Zahrani
Lebanon News
04:33
Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Sidon, Tyre, and Al Zahrani
5
Lebanon News
10:30
Germany arrests suspected Hezbollah member: Prosecutor
Lebanon News
10:30
Germany arrests suspected Hezbollah member: Prosecutor
6
Lebanon News
05:26
Fire near Beirut Port caused by waste
Lebanon News
05:26
Fire near Beirut Port caused by waste
7
News Bulletin Reports
13:05
Health alert: Lebanon monitors FLiRTLB1 variant as symptoms spread
News Bulletin Reports
13:05
Health alert: Lebanon monitors FLiRTLB1 variant as symptoms spread
8
News Bulletin Reports
13:15
Banking crisis continues: New tax rules for loan repayments
News Bulletin Reports
13:15
Banking crisis continues: New tax rules for loan repayments
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More