The Israeli government considers the indirect negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of hostages to have failed. The army is already preparing the impending offensive in Rafah. The evacuation of residents to a camp on the Mediterranean Sea began on Monday (see video above).
According to the Israeli military, about 100,000 people have been affected. A military spokesman said there was food, water and medicine in the camp. Field hospitals have also been built. The spokesperson could not say how much time people had to evacuate.
The Israeli government wants to use military operations in Rafah to destroy the remaining battalions of the terrorist organization Hamas. Hostages are also suspected in the city near the border with Egypt. According to Israel, the offensive is essential to destroy Hamas’s fighting capabilities. Otherwise, it could regain its strength after the start of the war.
Here you can see an overview of the situation in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas is said to have prepared itself
Hamas is said to have prepared and supplied its fighters with supplies and weapons. Moreover, Israeli hostages must be increasingly monitored. According to the Wall Street Journal, the ground offensive will be carried out in three phases. The newspaper wrote about two to three weeks of evacuation and six weeks of offensive.
The US and other allies of Israel have been urgently warning for months about an offensive in Rafah. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian displaced persons live there. The Egyptian government fears that a flow of Palestinians could come across the border. Another counterargument is that heavy fighting could further complicate the delivery of food, medicine and fuel.
One last chance?
Although preparations for a ground offensive in Rafah are already underway, the head of the US foreign intelligence service CIA wants to push for a last-minute deal with Hamas. He had facilitated talks on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Cairo and has now traveled to Qatar for further talks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already said that Rafah would be attacked even if an agreement were reached.
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.
