Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention under international law. Tlaib accuses Israel of committing a genocide in Rafah, linking the U.S. to the attack due to its funding. Despite Tlaib’s request, 12 U.S. senators have warned that any actions against Netanyahu and Israeli officials would result in severe sanctions.
Despite Hamas’ acceptance of a ceasefire proposed by Egypt and Qatar, the Israeli military has launched targeted strikes against the militant group in Rafah, southern Gaza. The strikes followed approval from Israel’s war cabinet. A Palestinian security official reported that Israeli tanks had entered Rafah, reaching close to the Egyptian border. Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV stated that Israeli officials had informed Egypt of the planned withdrawal of troops after completing the operation. The Israeli military operation in Gaza has forced over a million people to flee to tents and apartments in Rafah. Israel views Rafah as Hamas’ last stronghold but the United States has expressed opposition to a full-scale invasion without a credible strategy for safeguarding civilians.
Israel has agreed to consider US concerns prior to any military operation in Rafah, Gaza. The US expressed concerns about the potential humanitarian impact of such an operation. Secretary of State Blinken is scheduled to visit the region next week to advocate for a temporary ceasefire of at least six weeks. Hamas is also holding talks in Cairo to secure a ceasefire. The US has urged Israel to protect civilians and aid workers in Gaza, with President Biden warning of potential consequences if Israel fails to do so.
Israel has announced that it is continuing with its planned operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite international concerns over the potential impact on the 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering there.
Israeli airstrikes on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah have killed at least five people, including two children aged six and eight. The strikes also injured several others and caused widespread damage to infrastructure in the densely populated area. Palestinian officials have condemned the attacks as a violation of international law, while Israel claims they were necessary to target Hamas militants.
Israeli forces are preparing for a ground operation in Rafah, Gaza, despite international warnings about the humanitarian consequences. The U.S. has urged Israel to restrain its assault on the city, which shelters over 1 million civilians. Israel claims the operation is necessary to eliminate Hamas strongholds and reinforce its victory in the ongoing war.
Israeli warplanes have launched a fierce assault on the northern Gaza Strip for a second day, shattering weeks of relative calm. Israel has announced plans for an all-out assault on Rafah in the south, prompting warnings from Western countries. The offensive has killed at least 79 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza health authorities, and displaced thousands more. Residents are fleeing for their lives as Israeli forces target areas from where Hamas-aligned militants have fired rockets into Israel.
The Israeli military is deploying two reserve brigades for missions in the Gaza Strip, including potential operations in Rafah, Hamas’ last major stronghold. The move comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Rafah, raising concerns over civilian casualties as more than half of Gaza’s population seeks shelter in the city. The brigades have been studying lessons from the ongoing fighting in Gaza and will engage in defensive and tactical missions. The deployment is part of Israel’s war aim of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities, while the conflict has also led to increased violence in the West Bank, including the fatal shooting of a Palestinian woman by Israeli soldiers at the Okfim junction.
Israeli forces are preparing to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip considered Hamas’ final stronghold. The move has been met with warnings from the US and Egypt, who fear it would lead to a humanitarian crisis. However, Israeli officials say they are fully prepared to take Rafah and have purchased tents to house civilians who will be evacuated.
Germany has announced plans to resume cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza following an independent review of its neutrality. This decision follows similar moves by Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has redeployed two reserve brigades from the northern border to Gaza for defensive and tactical missions as it prepares for an offensive in Rafah. The redeployment comes amidst concerns over potential harm to civilians, with over half of Gaza’s population seeking refuge in Rafah. The region continues to face unrest, with Israel and the US pitted against Iran and allied militant groups, raising fears of a full-scale regional war.
