Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected international pressure to halt the ground offensive in Rafah, stating that doing so would be tantamount to giving up the war. A meeting of high-level international diplomats in Munich failed to make significant progress towards a ceasefire deal in Gaza. Despite calls from US President Joe Biden to focus on a ceasefire plan, Israel's defense minister indicated thorough planning for a military operation in Rafah. This comes as more than 40 Palestinians were killed in a series of airstrikes in the Deir Al-Balah neighborhood in central Gaza, with reports of bombs falling near a hospital. Protests have erupted in Tel Aviv with demands for the resignation of the Israeli government, escalating pressure on Netanyahu domestically. The situation remains tense as efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have hit a roadblock.