IntelBrief: All Eyes on Gaza as Ceasefire Deal Remains Uncertain

Bottom Line Up Front

• After an announcement on Monday that Hamas had accepted the terms of a ceasefire deal led to a temporary bout of celebration in Gaza, Israel claimed the deal that Hamas agreed to was not one that the Israelis had even seen, much less signed off on.
• Israeli tanks entered Rafah yesterday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seeking to take control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing at time when the UN has stated that northern Gaza is experiencing a famine which is “moving its way south.”
• The contours of the ceasefire deal are still emerging and being negotiated, but the Associated Press reported that any deal would start with a limited hostage release and at least a partial troop pullback by the IDF.
• Tensions have continued to run high between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden throughout the conflict and the recent confusion over whether a formal deal was achieved only contributed further to the strains.