Israel asserts that Rafah stands as the final stronghold for Hamas, necessitating the deployment of troops to execute its strategic plan against the Islamic militant group. However, an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in the town, fleeing conflict in other parts of Gaza.
Image - In Rafah, Palestinians witness the destruction left in the wake of an Israeli airstrike. Credit - Associated Press
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to devise a plan for evacuating the population of Rafah in anticipation of an impending Israeli invasion of the southern Gaza town. This decision follows international criticism surrounding Israel's intentions to enter the densely populated town on the border with Egypt.
Netanyahu contends that Rafah serves as a significant stronghold for Hamas, necessitating the deployment of troops as part of Israel's strategy against the militant group. However, given the estimated 1.5 million Palestinians currently residing in Rafah after fleeing conflict in other parts of Gaza, concerns have been raised about civilian safety.
Calling for a 'massive' operation in Rafah, Netanyahu underscores the imperative for both civilian evacuation measures and military actions against Hamas militants. He has instructed security officials to formulate a detailed plan that addresses these dual objectives.
Earlier on Friday, Israel carried out airstrikes on targets in Rafah. This occurred after Biden administration officials and aid agencies cautioned Israel against expanding its Gaza ground offensive to the town, where over half of the territory's 2.3 million residents have sought refuge. Overnight airstrikes and those on Friday hit two residential buildings in Rafah and two other sites in central Gaza, including one that damaged a kindergarten-turned-shelter. Twenty-two people were reported killed. U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Israel's conduct in the war, calling it "over the top." The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported a Palestinian death toll approaching 28,000, with about two-thirds being women and children. Israel's intentions to expand the ground offensive to Rafah drew backlash in Washington, with State Department spokesman Vedant Patel expressing concern about the lack of planning and potential disastrous consequences. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah is not something the U.S. would support. Warnings from aid agencies emphasized the importance of maintaining essential infrastructure in Gaza. With the war in its fifth month, Israeli forces are focusing on the city of Khan Younis, but Netanyahu's statements about Rafah have created panic among displaced people. Netanyahu's words have also raised concerns in Egypt, which stated that a ground operation in Rafah or mass displacement across the border would undermine its peace treaty with Israel. The Gaza-Egypt border is a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid.
Overnight Airstrikes -
Around midnight on Friday, a residential building near Rafah's Kuwaiti Hospital was targeted, resulting in the death of five individuals from the al-Sayed family, including three children and a woman. Another strike in Rafah claimed three additional lives. In the central town of Deir al-Balah, a separate overnight strike resulted in nine casualties. Additionally, a strike near a kindergarten-turned-shelter in central Gaza left five people dead and several others injured. Witnesses reported that shelter residents were asleep at the time of the incident.
Some wounded children were treated on the floor, highlighting the challenges faced in providing medical care. With over half of Gaza's population seeking refuge in Rafah due to Israeli evacuation orders, even these areas experience frequent airstrikes. Israel contends that it targets Hamas in civilian areas, holding the group responsible for civilian casualties due to its presence in these locations.
Pursuing a Cease-Fire - Israel's ongoing air and ground offensive, lasting for four months and marked as one of the most destructive in recent history, has resulted in the death of 27,947 Palestinians and over 67,000 injuries, as reported by local health officials on Friday. The conflict has forced a majority of the population from their homes, with a quarter of them facing the threat of starvation. President Biden asserts continuous efforts to work tirelessly towards achieving a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The potential truce would be contingent on the release of dozens of hostages seized on October 7, with approximately 250 still believed to be in Hamas captivity. Prime Minister Netanyahu has rejected Hamas' demands for a hostage deal, including an end to the war and the release of long-serving Palestinian prisoners in Israel. He dismissed these demands as delusional. While Secretary of State Blinken sees the possibility of continued negotiations through mediators like Egypt and Qatar, Israel's war objectives seem increasingly challenging to attain. Hamas is reemerging in parts of northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, with ongoing destruction. Israel has only managed to rescue one hostage, while Hamas claims casualties in airstrikes and failed rescue missions.
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