Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israelis appear closer to Rafah offensive

By ZEKE MILLER and AAMER MADHANI
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken as Israel appeared closer to launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. But soon after Israel announced it was ordering about 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating from Rafah, Hamas said in a statement it has accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a cease-fire to halt the seven-month-long war. There has been no immediate comment from Israel on the deal. Details of the proposal have not yet been released. The White House says Biden on Monday reiterated to Netanyahu U.S. concerns about an invasion of Rafah.