Israel Preparing for Rafah Evacuation and Offensive
According to Israeli and Egyptian officials, Israel’s plans involve coordinating with the US, Egypt, and other Arab countries to evacuate civilians over the first two to three weeks of the operation. Civilians will be moved to Khan Younis and other areas within Gaza, where shelters with tents, food, and medical facilities will be established.
Following the evacuation, the IDF will gradually deploy troops into Rafah, targeting areas where Hamas leaders and operatives are believed to be located. Israel considers Rafah, where Hamas’s intact battalions are stationed, as the terror group’s last stronghold in Gaza.
Despite Israel’s claims that the operation will prioritize civilian safety, the US State Department has expressed opposition to a mass invasion. Spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the US does not support evacuations that do not allow Palestinians to return home.
The Biden administration has argued that a large-scale offensive in Rafah would endanger civilians, disrupt humanitarian efforts, and isolate Israel internationally. Instead, it advocates for targeted operations against Hamas leaders and collaboration with Egypt to secure the Egypt-Gaza border.
Israel maintains that it cannot defeat Hamas without an offensive in Rafah to dismantle its remaining forces. However, it has emphasized that the operation will proceed only after civilian evacuation and humanitarian assistance are ensured in coordination with Egypt.
