Israel Poised to Send Troops into Rafah, Last Bastion of Hamas: Reports
Israel Poised to Send Troops into Rafah, Last Bastion of Hamas
In a bold move that could potentially shift the course of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel is reportedly preparing to send troops into Rafah, the city it sees as the last stronghold of Hamas. According to Israeli media reports, preparations are underway to evacuate war-displaced Palestinian civilians who have been seeking shelter in Rafah.
The planned operation, which has been postponed for several weeks due to disputes with Washington, is now set to take place “very soon,” as per the Israel Hayom newspaper. This decision comes after ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled, prompting the Israeli government to take action.
Multiple Israeli media outlets have carried similar reports, with some noting the construction of a tent city for Rafah evacuees on social media. The goal of this operation is to target Hamas combat battalions in Rafah, which Israel claims have been reinforced by retreating fighters from other parts of the Gaza Strip.
The fate of the more than one million Palestinians who have sought refuge in Rafah during the conflict is a matter of concern for Western powers and Cairo, which has ruled out any influx of refugees into Egyptian Sinai. Israel has pledged to take measures to protect these civilians as it moves forward with its military operation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli military spokesperson’s office have not yet commented on the reports. However, the Netanyahu government maintains that victory in the Gaza war is contingent on taking control of Rafah, crushing Hamas, and potentially recovering any hostages held by the militant group.
Hamas, for its part, has remained defiant in the face of Israeli aggression. In a recent speech marking the 200th day of the war, a Hamas armed wing spokesperson declared that Israel has only faced “humiliation and defeat” in its campaign. The conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides, with Gaza medical officials reporting over 34,000 Palestinian casualties and Israeli tallies indicating 1,200 deaths and 253 abductions by Hamas.
As tensions escalate and the situation in Gaza remains volatile, the world watches closely to see how the conflict in Rafah will unfold. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(Writing by Dan Williams. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters.
