ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he will proceed with an invasion in Rafah, where 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are hiding, despite US President Joe Biden's warning that doing so would constitute a "red line."
Netanyahu stated that the operation in the southern city would last for no more than two months, but did not specify a particular date. He also refuted Biden's accusation that he is "hurting more than helping" Israel by failing to restrict the killing of civilians in Gaza.
As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, many hoped that Hamas and Israel would have reached a ceasefire, which ideally would have allowed for the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid in addition to both sides releasing hostages.
The Gaza municipality has repeated its plea for humanitarian aid ahead of the start of Ramadan. Authorities asked international groups to help by providing fuel for basic services, energy generators for water wells, resuming water supplies from Israel's national water company, and heavy machinery for "waste management and infrastructure repair."
Netanyahu's statement comes after a CNN investigation revealed that the Israeli army is extending the Netzarim Corridor, which aims towards isolating the northern parts of Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory.
According to a satellite image taken on March 6, the east-west road, which has been under construction for weeks, now stretches from the Gaza-Israeli border area across the entire roughly 6.5-kilometer-wide strip separating northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from the south of the enclave.
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 31,112 people, with more than 72,760 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.
