Palestinians Prepare for Rafah Assault as Israel Promises Evacuation Plan – Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Henriette Chacar

DOHA/JERUSALEM – Israeli airstrikes overnight in Rafah, near the Gaza border, resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals, as reported by medical personnel on Saturday. The ongoing conflict has led to over a million Palestinians seeking refuge in the city, preparing for a full-scale offensive as devastation continues to envelop the enclave.

As the war approaches its fourth month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the military has been instructed to create plans for the evacuation of Rafah and to eliminate four Hamas battalions believed to be stationed there.

The Israeli military confirmed that its air force targeted and killed two Hamas operatives in Rafah on Saturday. Although the military has previously urged civilians to evacuate southward before assaults on Gaza’s cities, there are now few viable options for escape. Aid agencies have warned that the situation could turn dire, leading to further loss of life.

"Any Israeli incursion in Rafah means massacres, means destruction. People are filling every inch of the city, and we have nowhere to go," expressed Rezik Salah, a 35-year-old father who fled from Gaza City to Rafah earlier in the conflict with his wife and children.

International concern has emerged regarding a potential assault on Rafah, highlighted by remarks on social media from British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot. Cameron expressed deep concern about the military offensive, emphasizing that over half of Gaza’s population is currently sheltering in Rafah and calling for an immediate pause in fighting for humanitarian aid and the release of hostages. Bruins Slot remarked on the likelihood of civilian casualties in such densely populated areas, labeling large-scale military operations as unjustifiable.

The hostilities began on October 7 when Hamas militants breached border defenses to attack Israeli towns, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and 250 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, Israel launched extensive bombardments and ground offensives, resulting in an estimated 28,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, as reported by authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

The conflict has escalated regional tensions, with Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah frequently exchanging fire, and incidents occurring in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. In Yemen, the Iranian-backed Houthi militia held a funeral for at least 17 militants reportedly killed during recent joint U.S.-British airstrikes. The Houthis have been actively attacking merchant vessels with drones in a retaliation linked to the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza.

In Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike targeted a Palestinian figure affiliated with Hamas, resulting in the death of three others, including a Hezbollah member. Meanwhile, extensive damage has been inflicted on Gaza, where over 85% of the population is now homeless due to relentless airstrikes and artillery fire. Many displaced individuals have sought refuge in Rafah, located on the border with Egypt. Nevertheless, following unsuccessful ceasefire negotiations, Netanyahu has asserted that Israeli forces will continue their operations until achieving "total victory."

Recent airstrikes in Rafah resulted in significant civilian casualties, with one strike killing 11 people and injuring dozens, while another took the lives of six more. In Khan Younis, another southern Gaza city that had initially provided refuge, there are growing concerns about Israeli operations near the main Nasser Hospital, where around 300 staff members and 10,000 displaced individuals are currently sheltering.

Footage circulating online, which could not be independently verified, showed Israeli tanks near the hospital’s entrance. The Israeli military reported ongoing activities in Khan Younis and other areas, targeting militants and destroying infrastructure.

As fighting continues in Gaza City, where ground troops launched their initial attacks, residents have reported fierce clashes. Israel claims to have uncovered a substantial tunnel network beneath UN facilities, asserting it as evidence of Hamas’s exploitation of the organization, which has faced scrutiny and funding freezes from donor countries following allegations that some employees may have participated in the October attacks.

As the situation develops, fears persist among Palestinians regarding the potential for forced displacement, with Egypt stating it will not permit mass influxes into its territory, raising concerns about long-term strategies by Israel regarding Palestinian inhabitants.