A new tented refugee camp in Khan Younis appears to be depicted satellite photos who analyzed it Associated Pressraising concerns about an imminent Israeli ground operation in Rafah.

The new refugee camp is located near Khan Younis, which has been the target of repeated Israeli military operations in recent weeks.

Israel has said that its plans include evacuating Rafahwhere hundreds of thousands of people have found refuge during the war.

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The development comes two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “additional painful blows” aimed at Hamas after talks to free the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip broke down.

Over the past 24 hours the situation in the southernmost city in Gaza has become increasingly dangerous with Israeli strikes increasing, raising concerns about an invasion by Israeli ground forces.

An Israeli security official, according to the WallStreet Journal, says the invasion of Rafah is a matter of time with Israeli forces already having a tight operational plan in place which will…run alongside humanitarian aid.

According to the report of the American newspaper, Egyptian sources say that Israel is preparing to move civilians from Rafah to nearby Khan Yunis and other areas where it intends to set up camps with food distribution centers and medical (!) infrastructure.

Photos by: Planet Labs PBC via AP