ALBAWABA - In a meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel intends to broaden the already extensive brutal Israeli operation in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza.
"We are committed to broadening the ground operation in Rafah to the end of dismantling Hamas and recovering the hostages," a statement from Gallant’s office quoted him as telling visiting US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Israel claims that Rafah is the last stronghold of Hamas and its troops will not be backing down until they destroy all its hotspots across Gaza.
The statement from Gallant’s office said he "presented to (National Security) Adviser Sullivan the provisions Israel implemented for evacuating the population from the Rafah area and for setting up the appropriate humanitarian response".
According to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, 810,000 people—possibly more than half of Rafah's population during the conflict— have left the city since Israel ordered them to evacuate the small city in prep for the ground invasion.
On May 6, the IOF posted maps on its social media accounts illustrating evacuation routes. Israel has been threatening to invade Rafah for months, as officials insist that it remains to be the last haven for Hamas members in the enclave.
On October 27, Israel launched a full-scale ground invasion of the strip, to allegedly "destroy Hamas" across the besieged strip, while pushing residents of the northern and middle areas of Gaza to evacuate to the south, or what the IOF claims to be "safe zones for civilians".
Since then, Gazans have witnessed nothing short of horrifying war crimes across the strip, desperately taking refuge in what they though would be their safest option, only to realize that there is no safe spot for them.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 35,456+ people, with more than 79,366+ injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
