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Hamas warned Israel on Sunday that an offensive into Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah, crowded with displaced Palestinians, would threaten talks about the release of hostages seized in the October 7 attacks.
"Any attack by the occupation army on the city of Rafah would undermine the exchange negotiations," a leader in the Palestinian group told AFP, as Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to extend operations.
The Israeli prime minister this week said he had told troops to prepare to go into the city, as part of its aim to destroy Hamas.
But he has faced growing calls not to attack Rafah, on the border with Egypt, the last refuge for Gazans fleeing Israel's relentless bombardment elsewhere in the coastal territory.
Foreign governments, including Israel's main ally the United States, and humanitarian aid groups have voiced deep concern about the impact on displaced civilians.