Results for: Rafah offensive

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, has voiced her concerns over the continued captivity of 132 hostages by Hamas militants in Gaza. She emphasized the urgent need for creative solutions to end the suffering of both Gazan civilians and the hostages. Goldberg-Polin also expressed her belief that the U.S. should not be considered a neutral negotiator in the conflict, as American citizens were also victims of the October 7 attack that sparked the ongoing war. Despite warnings against a major military assault on Rafah, considered the last refuge for Hamas and civilians fleeing violence, Israeli forces have been engaged in intense battles in the area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to launch an incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah despite ongoing cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. The threat comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel to advance the truce talks. Netanyahu’s comments are meant to appease his nationalist governing partners, who oppose a deal that would prevent an attack on Rafah. The international community has warned Israel against any offensive that puts civilians at risk, with over half of Gaza’s population sheltering in Rafah.

Israel has commenced a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza’s last major population center not yet entered by Israeli troops. The operation comes after Hamas attacks on Israeli towns on October 7th. Israel claims that Rafah houses Hamas combat battalions and retreating fighters, but Egypt warns of catastrophic humanitarian consequences. The US has urged Israel to consider alternative strategies, while efforts to broker a ceasefire have failed. Gaza officials estimate over 34,000 deaths in Israel’s military campaign.

Recent satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press indicate the construction of a new tent complex near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. This development coincides with ongoing Israeli military signals of an impending offensive on the city of Rafah. Khan Younis has faced repeated Israeli military operations in recent weeks. Israel has stated its intention to evacuate civilians from Rafah prior to the anticipated offensive, which has seen hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in the southern city during the ongoing seven-month war.

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show a new tent compound being built near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, signaling that the Israeli military may be planning an offensive targeting the city of Rafah amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The tent compound, which has been under construction since April 16, has grown significantly in recent days and is located near Khan Younis, an area that has faced repeated Israeli military operations in recent weeks. Israel has threatened to target Hamas with “additional painful blows” over the breakdown of talks over hostage releases, and the construction of the tent compound suggests that an offensive on Rafah, where half of Gaza’s population has fled, may be imminent.