Israeli forces prepare to advance on Rafah as US calls for restraint
PTC News Desk: Israeli forces are reportedly fully prepared to initiate an assault on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, pending government approval. Despite international concerns about the potential humanitarian impact, Israeli military operations are proceeding, with plans in place to evacuate Palestinian civilians before engaging Hamas forces entrenched in Rafah.
A senior Israeli defense official has confirmed that all necessary preparations for the operation in Rafah have been completed and that it can commence immediately upon receiving government authorisation.
In response to these developments, the United States has urged Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from launching an attack on Rafah, emphasizing the city’s significant population, which houses more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
Here are the latest developments in the Israel-Hamas war:
1. The Israeli government has purchased 40,000 tents capable of housing 10-12 people each, suggesting a potential large-scale evacuation.
2. Netanyahu’s war cabinet plans to convene within two weeks to authorize civilian evacuations from Rafah, expected to take around a month.
3. Top Israeli intelligence and military officials met in Cairo with Egypt’s intelligence chief and other key officials to discuss a possible Israel Defense Forces operation in Rafah.
4. Egypt has cautioned Israel against advancing on Rafah, emphasizing that it will not permit Gazans to be pushed across the border onto its territory, warning of potential massive casualties and destruction.
5. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Washington is in ongoing discussions with Israel regarding Rafah and anticipates further in-person meetings soon.
6. Israel aims to defeat Hamas in Rafah, considering it home to four Hamas combat battalions with thousands of fighters retreating there.
7. Brigadier-General Itzik Cohen, commander of Israel’s 162nd Division in Gaza, asserted that Hamas will face significant military action in Rafah.
8. Hamas released a video featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, captured during Hamas’ October attacks on Israel. Goldberg-Polin, missing part of his left arm, indicates in the video that he has been held for nearly 200 days, likely filmed shortly before the 200th day of the war.