Israeli strikes begin in Rafah hours after Hamas agrees to a ceasefire

In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters called for a hostage deal. They marched toward the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, holding a banner reading “the blood is on your hands.” 

Israeli soldiers directs a tank at a staging ground near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, May 5. Picture: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov

Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces are now striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday.

The move came hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, which could end seven months of war in Gaza.