Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has escalated his pledge to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.
“It will happen.
There is a date,” Netanyahu declared in a video statement Monday, without elaborating.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has said a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a credible plan to protect civilians. Netanyahu spoke as Israeli negotiators are in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Israeli troops withdrew Sunday from Khan Younis, another city in southern Gaza, ending a key phase of the war. Defense officials say they’re regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah.
Palestinians who visited Khan Younis on Monday say the city is now unlivable, offering them little immediate chance to return. Many have been sheltering in Rafah.
The Palestinian death toll from the war has passed 33,200, with nearly 76,000 wounded, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.
The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.
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Why is this war fought like this...with it always being an open public discussion, the date and time of the Rafah offensive...most military campaigns in history (that are successful) were not waged like this.
Also it's obvious to me that now that the IDF left Khan Younis...that Hamas in Rafah can just flee via that route to go north to the central camps or something...or via the "humanitarian" zone on the coast?
This whole thing is slow-walked and broadcast so openly...that it's really unclear what the point is or why a military-political campaign would be run this way.
But who knows...we'll see...
Why? You ask why? It isn’t obvious? Netanyahu is a coward and not fit to serve. He is incapable of taking any decision unless it serves his personal agenda. Israel is rudderless, alone and with no end game. As a resident of the north I am scornful of him.
If I'm generous, maybe its been decided the brigade-scale units and the weapons and support infrastructure are more important than killing the Hamas members themselves.
Also it isn't going to take a genius to know Hamas will reoccupy key buildings and IDF can trap them
@ForeignPolicyBillyGreen2yrs2Y
It’s really not difficult to understand. Israel, or at least Netanyahu, has no interest in bringing the war to an end. It all makes sense when you recognize that.
t’s embarrassing. And to think what happened 6 short months ago is disgusting. Where does this country go from here.. who leads? Disheartening.
@WakefulTariffRepublican2yrs2Y
The US State Department says Washington has not been briefed on a date for Israel entering Rafah, after Bibi claimed a date for the offensive has been set.
@TreatyTonyRepublican2yrs2Y
Yeah because it’s contingent on Biden admin not being in office at the time
@DiplomatGrizzlyDemocrat2yrs2Y
Offensive in Rafah...that's why IDF pulled out almost all brigades out of Gaza?
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Considering the high number of casualties, do you believe there can be a justified reason for such invasions?
@9LFGXVM2yrs2Y
There is always a reason. But they aren't always 'justified'
The push on Rafah...How many weeks is this going to be talked about? I'm lost on this endless delay.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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