IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Herzi Halevi has approved plans for a major operation in Rafah, the IDF said on Sunday.
Halevi approved plans for the continuation of the war in a meeting on Sunday with Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman and the other division and brigade commanders of the Southern Command.
The approval comes as Hamas negotiators in Cairo consider an Israeli proposal to postpone or forgo such an operation, which Prime Minister Netanyahu approved weeks ago, in exchange for a ceasefire and the release of some hostages.
Right-wing members of Netanyahu's cabinet oppose such a deal, and have threatened to collapse the coalition if the Prime Minister decides to postpone the operation. Minister Benny Gantz, in response, has said the government would lose its legitimacy if it rejected a hostage deal in order to invade Rafah.
Amid the ministers' threats, a senior government official told media Sunday evening: "Preparations for entering Rafah continue. In any deal, if there is one, Israel will not give up the goals of the war."
Halevi's approval of the Rafah plans also comes as the International Criminal Court reportedly considers issuing arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Halevi, a decision that could be affected by Israel's actions in southern Gaza.
Reservists fight in central Gaza
Meanwhile, responsibility for the central corridor of the Gaza Strip was given to reservist combat teams from the Yiftach and Carmeli Brigade this week, the IDF said, “carrying out targeted raids to eliminate terrorists and locate and destroy terrorist infrastructure in the area.”
“The raids are taking place while protecting the corridor in the center of the Gaza Strip and carrying out actions that will allow the transfer of humanitarian aid,” the statement added.
Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman and 99th Division commander Brig.-Gen. Barak Hiram held a situation assessment in the field on Friday, the IDF said, adding that new operational plans for continued fighting were approved.