The Israeli army today approved a plan for a ground offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
“The plan will be presented when the army is asked to do so,” Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi said during the cabinet meeting, according to Israeli public service KAN.
The Israeli military plans to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, home to more than a million residents seeking refuge from the war, to defeat what Tel Aviv calls the remaining “Hamas battalions.”
The planned offensive has raised concerns about a humanitarian disaster in the city.
Palestinians have been seeking refuge from Israeli attacks in Rafah since October 7.
The White House warned on Wednesday that an Israeli offensive on Rafah “would be a disaster” for the Palestinians.
Following a genocide claim brought by the Republic of South Africa, the International Court of Justice ruled on January 26 that Israel must refrain from any actions related to the killing, attacks and destruction of Gazans and take all measures to prevent the genocide.
However, Israeli forces continue to attack the Gaza Strip.
28,176 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in 128 days.
