Israeli Military Targets Rafah, Southernmost City in Gaza Strip
The Israeli military has set its sights on Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, following its completion of operations in Khan Younis. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the impending targeting of Rafah, which has seen a rapid increase in population as Gazans fled there in the wake of Israeli attacks on northern cities, according to the United Nations.
Gallant emphasized the necessity of national resilience and determination in the ongoing conflict, stating, “This war requires national resilience and determination and we must persevere until we complete our missions,” in a statement from the ministry. The minister claimed that Israeli forces have so far eliminated an estimated 10,000 Hamas fighters, with another 10,000 wounded. However, these numbers have not been independently confirmed by CNN.
This latest offensive comes two weeks after the Israel Defense Forces estimated that about 9,000 Hamas fighters had been killed since the start of its war on Hamas in response to the group’s October 7 attacks on Israel. Meanwhile, the UN reports that more than 1.4 million Gazans are “already crammed” into the Rafah governorate, underscoring the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Historically, the conflict between Israel and Hamas dates back to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent displacement of thousands of Palestinians. Since then, the two sides have engaged in multiple armed conflicts, resulting in high casualties and widespread destruction.
As the Israeli military sets its sights on Rafah, the world watches with concern as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The plight of the civilians trapped in the crossfire serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the enduring conflict.
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