ALBAWABA - According to local reports, the Israeli army is preparing to launch its ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza "very soon".
Citing an unnamed Israeli source, Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported that the army is preparing for a ground operation in Rafah that would include "evacuating a significant number of residents".
"According to the army's plan, more than 1 million Palestinians in Rafah will be asked to evacuate the area to shelters recently established in the southern and central parts of the Gaza Strip," KAN's military correspondent Itay Blumental.
According to the same source, Israeli security authorities predicted that evacuating civilians from Rafah would take four to five weeks. He went on to say that "residents in each area will be notified in advance before any Israeli forces move in, allowing them to be evacuated in stages".
According to KAN, an unnamed Israeli security official has stated that Tel Aviv is establishing an "operations room" with the US to coordinate the Rafah operation.
The official told KAN that the Israelis "understand American concerns, but we cannot end the military operation in the Gaza Strip without entering Rafah, which could also help exert pressure leading to a breakthrough in the issue of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip,".
Despite worldwide outcry over the catastrophic consequences of Israel's invasion of Rafah, the IOF has been discussing plans to invade the last haven for Gazans who sought refuge there from all over the enclave fleeing the brutal Israeli aggression in the hopes of finding what was once believed to be a safe zone.
Footage circulated on social media showing Israeli tankers moving closer and closer to the vicinity of Rafah, sparking concerns about the timeframe the Israeli army has put down to invade the southern city in Gaza
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 34,151+ people, with more than 77,084+ 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.
