The Prime Minister's Office announced on Monday evening that the War Cabinet voted to proceed with the military operation in Rafah following Hamas's claim that it had accepted a ceasefire deal.
"The War Cabinet unanimously decided that Israel will continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to promote the release of our hostages and the other goals of the war," the Prime Minister's Office said.
At the same time, although the Hamas proposal is far from the minimum necessary for Israel, the Israeli government will send a delegation to Cairo to exhaust the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel.
Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed that the military has begun attacking terrorist targets in Rafah in a "targeted manner." Arab sources reported that IDF tanks and infantry forces have begun crossing the fence in the southern Gaza Strip into the Rafah area.
Live updates:
Sunday, 12:33 a.m.: Terrorists fired five rockets from Lebanon towards western Galilee.
Saturday, 11:40 p.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Saturday, 9:00 p.m.: Over Shabbat (the Sabbath) sirens sounded in Kerem Shalom and at the Duda'im waste site near Ofakim, warning of incoming missiles.
The IDF reported: "Following the siren that sounded a short while ago in the area of Kerem Shalom, four launches were identified that crossed from the Rafah area. The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted one of the launches and the rest fell in open areas. No injuries were reported."
In northern Israel, sirens sounded in multiple areas just after 7:00p.m., warning of four instances of hostile aircraft infiltration.
Following this, at just before 9:00p.m., the IDF reported, "Following the sirens that sounded in northern Israel, two UAVs that crossed from Lebanon fell in the area of Beit Hillel in northern Israel, no injuries were reported."
"Earlier today, IAF fighter jets struck a Hezbollah military structure in the area of Amra in southern Lebanon.
"Yesterday (Friday), the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted two UAVs in Lebanese territory."
Saturday, 2:15 a.m.: Live updates are stopping at this time in honor of the start of Shabbat in North America, and will resume on Saturday night, upon the conclusion of Shabbat in Israel.
Friday, 7:16 p.m.: Sirens sounded in southern Israel.
Friday, 7:00 p.m.: With the start of Shabbat in Israel, Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk will continue to update the site.
Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel.
Friday, 2:20 p.m.: Aeriel infiltration in northern Israel.
Friday, 9:57 a.m.: Sirens sounded in Kerem Shalom, a community near the Gaza Strip.
Friday, 9:48 a.m.: Sirens sounded in Kerem Shalom, a community near the Gaza Strip.
Thursday, 7:42 p.m.: The IDF says that an unidentified object crossed into Israeli airspace from Gaza and crashed in the area of Netivot. No one was hurt.
Thursday, 7:19 p.m.: Three IDF soldiers were moderately wounded when a booby-trapped tunnel shaft exploded in Rafah.
Thursday, 5:29 p.m.: Aerial infiltration in northern Israel.
Thursday, 5:09 p.m.: Sirens sounded in Shlomi, northern Israel.
Thursday 4:57 p.m.: Aerial infiltration in northern Israel.
Thursday, 1:55 a.m.: The IDF is currently striking Hamas terror targets in central Gaza, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.
Details to follow.
Wednesday, 8:14 p.m.: Earlier today, IAF fighter jets struck a military structure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s Radwan Forces in the area of Jabal Rezlane.
Furthermore, throughout the day, IAF fighter jets struck military structures in which Hezbollah terrorists were operating and additional Hezbollah military structures in the areas of Khiam, Odaisseh, Blida, Maroun al-Ras, and Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.
Tuesday, 11:16 p.m.: Sirens were sounded in Kiryat Shmona and either communities in northern Israel.
Tuesday, 11:14 p.m.: Defense officials are reporting that Iron Dome intercepted a suspicious target in the Gulf of Eilat.
Tuesday, 11:08 p.m.: Explosion heard in Eilat, likely due to an interception of a rocket.
Tuesday, 11:05 p.m.: Sirens sounded in northern Israel.
Tuesday, 6:08 a.m.: Palestinian Arab sources reported nine dead in a strike on a building in Rafah.
Tuesday, 2:03 a.m.: A defense official said that the IDF is attacking the areas in the northern Gaza Strip from which rockets were fired at Sderot on Monday evening.
Tuesday, 1:08 a.m.: Reports in Gaza say that IDF forces are advancing to the Philadelphi corridor and encircling the Tel Sultan neighborhood between Rafah and the border, near Kerem Shalom.
Tuesday, 12:45 a.m.: Palestinian Arab sources reported that IDF tanks came within 200 meters of the Rafah crossing, and began firing several shells at nearby buildings.
Monday, 11:20 p.m.: Six rockets fired towards Sderot in the last barrage, of which two were intercepted and four exploded outside the city.
Monday, 11:00 p.m.: Sirens were sounded in Ashdod and in communities located near the Gaza border.