Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant. Despite intense international pressure, the Prime Minister of Israel pledged that the military operation in Rafah will begin after civilians are allowed to leave this town on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip. The question international analysts are asking is where the civilians will go since they cannot return to the north or flee to countries such as Egypt.

“We will fight until total dominance, which also includes withdrawal strong action in Rafa, after we allow the civilian population to leave the battlefield,” Netanyahu said in a message on the Telegram platform.

About 1.4 million Palestinians crowd into Rafah, according to UN figures, as this city has turned into a huge camp for displaced people. Rafah is the only major urban center in the Gaza Strip where the Israeli military has not launched a large-scale operation since the war against Hamas began.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Hamas today to conclude a cease-fire agreement quickly for the release of hostages in order to prevent an attack on Rafa that “would cause thousands of casualties”.