Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today confirmed his intention to launch a military invasion of the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, saying “there is a date”.
In a video message today, Netanyahu said the operation in Rafah is essential to Israel’s victory in the war.
“It will happen. There is a date,” he said, giving no further details.
He made the announcement while Israeli negotiators were in Cairo discussing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Israel must send troops to Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of the Palestinian Hamas militants, but the international community, including Israel’s closest ally the United States, opposes the announced operation, because about 1.4 million civilians will who took shelter there being seriously threatened by it.
Official Israel has consistently reiterated that it has a plan to protect civilians.
Israel is buying 40,000 tents to prepare for the Rafah evacuation, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity.
Allowing people to return to Khan Younis could ease the pressure on Rafah, but many have no homes to return to. The city is also likely full of dangerous unexploded ordnance left over from the fighting, Beta reports.
