The prime minister of the Palestinian Authority has announced the resignation of his government amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East. Israel is intensifying preparations for expanding its ground operation in Gaza, while President Biden has set a timeline for a new ceasefire, expressing optimism that a deal could be reached by the weekend.
Israel's war cabinet is considering a plan to evacuate over a million Palestinian refugees from Rafa, the southernmost town in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that an offensive into Rafa is necessary to defeat Hamas, despite international pressure and concerns about civilian casualties. Netanyahu emphasized the importance of evacuating civilians during the operation.
Meanwhile, an international delegation in Doha, Qatar, is working on a proposal to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of a potential temporary ceasefire agreement. The Israeli army's chief of general staff praised the soldiers for their effective combat efforts in securing the release of hostages.
Recent developments have heightened tensions with Hezbollah, as Israel conducted a strike in Lebanon targeting a Hezbollah commander responsible for anti-tank rockets fired into northern Israel. In response, Hezbollah shot down an Israeli drone and Israeli fighter jets carried out strikes in Baalbek, marking the deepest Israeli incursions into Lebanon in years.
As evacuated towns in Israel's north remain empty due to rocket fire, Netanyahu has vowed to repopulate them, either through diplomatic means or military action if necessary. The resignations of the Palestinian Prime Minister and his government coincide with calls for reform within the Palestinian Authority to establish a more effective governing body for the post-war period.
