The aim is to crush Hamas forces in Rafah, as it has assured it has been doing in recent weeks in Khan Younis, the Times of Israel newspaper reported Thursday, citing Defense Minister Yoav Gallad.
Israel’s military is preparing to expand ground operations in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, according to a press report yesterday.
The aim is to crush Hamas forces in Rafah, as it has assured it has been doing in recent weeks in Khan Younis, the Times of Israel newspaper reported Thursday, citing Defense Minister Yoav Gallad.
More than 1.3 million displaced people have taken refuge in Rafah, more than half of the population of the Gaza Strip (a total of 2.2 million), according to the UN. They have set up sprawling camps after fleeing their homes to escape the shelling and fighting. Before the war, this city, on the border with Egypt, had around 250,000 inhabitants.
The Hamas units in Khan Younis are collapsing, Mr. Gallad assured last Wednesday during his visit to the city, according to the report. He added that after the operation in this area is completed, Israeli forces will advance to Rafah to “eliminate any terrorist trying to harm us.”
The American newspaper Wall Street Journal reported three weeks ago, citing its Israeli and Egyptian sources, that Cairo was informed that an Israeli military operation was planned on the Palestinian side of the border.
The border crossing at Rafah is controlled on the one hand by the Egyptian authorities and on the other hand by Palestinians working for Hamas.
Israel’s civil-military leadership believes that underground tunnels that cut across the border are being used to smuggle goods and weapons to Hamas.
Source :Skai
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