Israeli War Minister Benny Gantz threatened an offensive on Rafah around March 10. “The world needs to know and the Hamas leadership needs to know: if the hostages are not home by Ramadan, the fighting will continue everywhere, including in the Rafah region,” Gantz said on Sunday.
The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan starts around March 10. “To those who say the price is too high, I say clearly: Hamas has a choice. They can surrender, release the hostages and the civilians in Gaza can celebrate Ramadan,” Gantz said in Jerusalem. An Israeli offensive would be coordinated and carried out in consultation with the US and Egypt to evacuate civilians.
Netanyahu: Agreement changes nothing
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also pushing for a military offensive in Rafah despite international warnings. Even an agreement with Hamas to release the hostages would not change the plan. Rafah is located on the border with Egypt and currently hosts approximately 1.4 million Palestinians. A number of governments, including Israel’s closest ally the US, are therefore calling for a halt to the deployment.
For example, the Egyptian government assumes that mainly women and children will die. “The severity of the consequences of the Israeli offensive on the civilian population is already unprecedented in the 21st century,” said Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Focus on the south
Current Israeli military operations are mainly taking place in the south of the Gaza Strip, such as in the city of Khan Younis. On Sunday, the military said it was still in and near Nasser Hospital, where it “found additional weapons.”
Fighters from Hamas and other terrorist organizations entered Israel on October 7 and began atrocities, mainly against civilians. About 1,160 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. It is said that 130 of them are still in the area, 30 of whom are now dead. Since then, the Israeli army has launched a large-scale military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. More than 28,900 people are said to have died.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
