Prior to Israel's anticipated assault of the heavily populated southern Gaza city, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the military instructions on Friday to devise a strategy for the evacuation of residents from Rafah. Strong worldwide condemnation of Israel's plans to send ground soldiers into the city, including opposition from the US, preceded the announcement.
According to the AP, hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled conflict elsewhere in Gaza have taken refuge in Rafah, which borders Egypt, where they now live in large tent camps. The number is 1.4 million, according to the New York Times, which also notes that "it is unclear where those individuals may go."
Rafah is the final surviving Hamas bastion in Gaza, according to Israel, after more than four months of fighting. Netanyahu's administration said, "It is not conceivable to fulfill the aim of the battle of eradicating Hamas by keeping four Hamas battalions in Rafah." Conversely, it is evident that the high level of activity in Rafah necessitates the evacuation of civilian areas from the conflict zones. According to the report, he gave the go-ahead for the military and security personnel to devise a "combined strategy" that calls for the elimination of Hamas' troops inside the city as well as the widespread evacuation of residents.
Over 27,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel's onslaught since Hamas' attack in October, the majority of them were women and children, according to local health experts. With a paucity of food and medical supplies, Gaza has entered a humanitarian catastrophe, with around 80% of its inhabitants now displaced.
In the most condemnation the US has ever leveled at its close friend, Israel, President Biden warned on Thursday that its actions in the conflict are "over the top." According to the State Department, an assault of Rafah under these conditions "would be a calamity."
According to the AP, hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled conflict elsewhere in Gaza have taken refuge in Rafah, which borders Egypt, where they now live in large tent camps. The number is 1.4 million, according to the New York Times, which also notes that "it is unclear where those individuals may go."
Rafah is the final surviving Hamas bastion in Gaza, according to Israel, after more than four months of fighting. Netanyahu's administration said, "It is not conceivable to fulfill the aim of the battle of eradicating Hamas by keeping four Hamas battalions in Rafah." Conversely, it is evident that the high level of activity in Rafah necessitates the evacuation of civilian areas from the conflict zones. According to the report, he gave the go-ahead for the military and security personnel to devise a "combined strategy" that calls for the elimination of Hamas' troops inside the city as well as the widespread evacuation of residents.
Over 27,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel's onslaught since Hamas' attack in October, the majority of them were women and children, according to local health experts. With a paucity of food and medical supplies, Gaza has entered a humanitarian catastrophe, with around 80% of its inhabitants now displaced.
In the most condemnation the US has ever leveled at its close friend, Israel, President Biden warned on Thursday that its actions in the conflict are "over the top." According to the State Department, an assault of Rafah under these conditions "would be a calamity."
