Any Israeli ground offensive in Rafah on the Gaza border will "blow up" the hostage exchange negotiations," Hamas-run Aqsa Television channel quoted a senior Hamas leader as saying on Sunday.
Israel’s neighbors and key mediators also warned Saturday of disaster and repercussions if its military launches a ground invasion in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said any Israeli ground offensive on Rafah would have “disastrous consequences,” and asserted that Israel aims to eventually force the Palestinians out of their land.
Another mediator, Qatar, also warned of disaster, and Saudi Arabia warned of “very serious repercussions.”
A total of 28,176 Palestinians have been killed and 67,784 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Some 112 Palestinians were killed and 173 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.
