Netanyahu dismisses a ceasefire proposal by Hamas and orders troops to push further into Rafah

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there's still room for an agreement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a ceasefire proposal.
The deal was put forth by Hamas after mediation by the Qatar and Egypt.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom reports from Tel Aviv and Rory Challands has the latest developments in occupied East Jerusalem.

Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor of Middle East and Central Asian politics at Deakin University, says Israel’s leader is averse to signing a truce deal as it would give Hamas credibility and recognition.

“He knows his political future is very much tied to right-wing politicians and he’s not going to antagonise them by stepping back from destroying Hamas,” Akbarzadeh told Al Jazeera.

He said Israel’s leader views the captives held in Gaza as “acceptable collateral damage”.

“Netanyahu is not making decisions based on the interests of the hostages. He’s making decisions on his own political interests.”

Despite Antony Blinken’s disappointing visit to the region without a truce deal, the US will continue to unconditionally back Israel, Akbarzadeh predicted.

“It does put the US in a difficult position but at the end of the day, the United States is Israel’s steadfast ally in the international arena and it’s not going to abandon that position.”

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