Israeli Military Preparations Signal Imminent Attack on Rafah
In a significant escalation of hostilities, the Israeli military has ordered Palestinians in eastern Rafah to evacuate, signaling an imminent attack using “extreme force” in southern Gaza. This directive follows an intense night of Israeli bombardments that resulted in the deaths of 22 people in Rafah, including eight children. The situation worsened after Hamas launched retaliatory rockets at the Karem Abu Salem crossing earlier on Sunday, resulting in the neutralization of three Israeli soldiers.
Amid faltering truce talks in Cairo and growing regional tension, the Israeli cabinet has unanimously voted to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations within Israel, intensifying the crackdown on international media coverage amidst the ongoing conflict.
According to the latest reports, the conflict has led to substantial casualties. Since October 7, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 34,683 Palestinians and wounded another 78,018. Meanwhile, the toll on Israel from Hamas’s attacks that same day includes 1,139 fatalities, with more than 125 Israelis still held captive by Hamas. It is also worth mentioning that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel since the October 7th attacks.
Israeli Defense Minister Discusses Rafah Offensive with U.S. Counterpart
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has communicated to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, that Israel had “no choice” but to initiate an offensive in Rafah. During an overnight call, Gallant briefed Austin on the recent rocket barrage launched from Rafah, which targeted an Israeli army position at the border.
Gallant attributed the escalation to Hamas’s refusal to entertain any proposals that could lead to a temporary ceasefire. “There was no choice left, and the meaning was the start of the Israeli operation in Rafah,” Gallant’s office quoted him as telling Austin.
The unfolding situation indicates a severe deepening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with international implications as diplomatic efforts continue to falter.
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