The Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland has said she believes Israel will press ahead with attacks against Palestinians and an invasion of Rafah despite Hamas accepting a ceasefire deal.
The prospect of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which had seemed possible during the weekend, ebbed away as Sunday turned to Monday.
Hamas said in a statement it was "still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal".
The group's chief, Ismail Haniyeh, blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for "sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators".
This photo provided by the Israel Defence Forces shows a tank with an Israel flag entering the Gazan side of the Rafah border crossing, 7-5-24. Image: Associated Press / AlamyThe impasse comes after Egyptian media reported "noticeable progress" in ceasefire talks on Saturday.
Mr Netanyahu has rejected the ceasefire proposals because he says Hamas's call for a withdrawal of all troops from Gaza and an end to the war is unacceptable.
He claimed agreeing such proposals would "leave Hamas intact" and leave the possibility of another attack in future.
The proposal put to Hamas had set out a three-stage process for an immediate, six-week ceasefire and partial release of Israeli hostages, with some sort of Israeli pull-out in exchange.
Rafah incursion
Israel has reportedly captured the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing - hours after rejecting the ceasefire deal.
A Gaza border authority spokesperson told Reuters news agency the crossing, a major route for aid into the devastated enclave, has been closed because of the presence of Israeli tanks.
US President Joe Biden has repeatedly told the Israeli leadership America would not support a ground invasion of Rafah without a comprehensive and workable plan for the civilians - a plan that has not been forthcoming.
Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Abdalmajid told Newstalk Breakfast Israel is continuing its assault.
"What we heard yesterday that Hamas give a positive response to the initiative for the ceasefire, just a few hours after the Israeli war cabinet said no," she said.
"But on the ground we see the Israeli tanks in the Rafah Crossing, controlling the crossing, raising the Israel flag over there and continue to bombard Rafah.
"It seems that Israel is going to continue its attack and invade Rafah".
'More pressure' from the US
Ambassador Abdalmajid said more than 100,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah as a result.
"I don't know if [in the] next few hours if the United States will put more pressure on Israel to accept this," she said.
"However, this is the news that's coming from there, that Israel is sending its delegation to Cairo to continue the talks".
'People continue to suffer'
Ambassador Abdalmajid said the situation is 'confusing' with the people on the ground still suffering.
"From the beginning the United States is mediating this negotiation; they know exactly what it is," she said.
"Yesterday there was a call between Mr Biden and Netanyahu, then Hamas agreed before Hamas received all the information.
"Then today the [Israeli] war cabinet said no - and we see on the ground completely different.
"The people there are continuing to suffer.... it's very bad".
Ambassador Abdalmajid said it is going to be a "disaster" if the situation continues.
'Very strong appeal'
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday reiterated his pressing call to both sides "to go the extra mile needed to make an agreement come true and stop the present suffering".
He also voiced deep concern over indications that a large-scale military operation in Rafah may be imminent.
Mr Guterres told reporters that he had made "a very strong appeal to the government of Israel and to the leadership of the Hamas in order to go an extra mile to materialize an agreement that is absolutely vital."
"This is an opportunity that cannot be missed", the UN chief said.
Since October 7th at least 34,680 Palestinians have been killed, including over 14,000 children, and over 78,000 wounded, according to the Gazan health authorities.
