Israeli forces have completed preparations for a ground operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, amid international calls for restraint. Despite warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe, the Israeli military is poised to move forward with an assault on Hamas holdouts in Rafah, with plans underway to evacuate Palestinian civilians from the area.
A senior Israeli defense official confirmed to the Times of Israel that all necessary preparations to seize Rafah have been finalized, awaiting government approval before launching the operation. The United States has urged Israel to refrain from attacking the city, which is currently home to more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Recent developments indicate significant preparations for a potential large-scale evacuation, with the Israeli government purchasing 40,000 tents capable of housing 10-12 people each. Sources suggest that Netanyahu’s war cabinet plans to convene within the next two weeks to authorize civilian evacuations, a process expected to take around a month.
In a significant diplomatic move, top Israeli intelligence and military officials reportedly met with Egyptian counterparts in Cairo to discuss the potential operation in Rafah. However, Egypt has issued a stern warning against any Israeli incursion into the city, vowing not to allow Gazans to be pushed across the border into Egyptian territory. Cairo has emphasized the potential for “massive human massacres, losses, and widespread destruction” in the event of an offensive.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed ongoing discussions with Israel regarding the situation in Rafah. Both countries are expected to convene in person soon to further address concerns and explore alternative approaches to dealing with the Hamas threat in the region.
Israel justifies its military actions as necessary to eliminate Hamas, particularly in Rafah, where it claims the presence of four Hamas combat battalions reinforced by thousands of retreating fighters. Brigadier-General Itzik Cohen of Israel’s 162nd Division operating in Gaza has affirmed that Hamas will soon face significant pressure in Rafah, following previous strikes in the northern and central sectors of the Gaza Strip.
Amidst the escalating tensions, Hamas has released a video featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was captured during Hamas’ attacks last October. The video shows Goldberg-Polin, reportedly held for nearly 200 days, highlighting the prolonged conflict’s toll on both sides.
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