Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the vow Tuesday amid the negotiations mediated by Egypt that seek to reach a cease-fire deal that could see the release of some or all of the remaining hostages.

The Israeli PM's insistence on invading Rafah is proving a major obstacle to a proposal to halt the fighting for 40 days in return for the release of hostages Foreign mediators are waiting for a Hamas response to the ceasefire deal,

AMHouthis threaten ships in Red Sea if Israel carries out Rafah operationThe Houthis threatened to "prevent all ships of these companies from passing through" the Red Sea if the Israeli operation in Rafah goes forward in a social media post Friday.