Israel is on the brink of sending troops into Rafah, the Gazan city considered the last stronghold of Hamas, according to reports from Israeli media on Wednesday. The preparations are underway to evacuate Palestinian civilians who have sought shelter in Rafah.
The long-awaited Rafah sweep, which was delayed due to disputes with Washington, is now set to happen “very soon,” as reported by the Israel Hayom newspaper. This decision comes after ceasefire talks with Hamas hit a roadblock, prompting the Israeli government to take action.
Various Israeli media outlets have echoed similar reports, with some noting the construction of a tent city for evacuees in Rafah on social media. However, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli military spokesperson’s office have refrained from making any immediate comments on the matter.
Rafah, located near the Egyptian border, has seen an influx of over a million Palestinians fleeing other parts of the Gaza Strip during the ongoing conflict. The fate of these displaced civilians has raised concerns among Western powers and Cairo, which has ruled out accepting any refugees into Egyptian Sinai.
The Israeli government asserts that Rafah houses four intact Hamas combat battalions, which have been reinforced by additional fighters from the militant group. They believe that securing victory in the Gaza war, which was triggered by Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, is contingent on taking control of Rafah, defeating Hamas, and rescuing any potential hostages held in the city.
Hamas, on the other hand, has remained silent on its military deployments. In a recent speech marking the 200th day of the conflict, a Hamas spokesperson claimed that Israel has only faced “humiliation and defeat” in a campaign that has resulted in a high number of casualties on both sides.
As tensions escalate, the world watches closely as Israel prepares to make its move in Rafah, potentially altering the course of the conflict in the region.