28 Dead in Rafah Strikes; Netanyahu Hints Inevitable Invasion

In the early hours of Saturday in Rafah, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the death of at least 28 Palestinians. This occurred shortly after Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced plans for potentially evacuating hundreds of thousands from Rafah in southern Gaza in anticipation of a ground assault. Netanyahu did not specify a timeline or details, sparking widespread fear among the populace.

Rafah is densely populated, with over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents currently residing there, many displaced by previous Israeli evacuation directives that now encompass two-thirds of Gaza. The feasible destinations for these people remain uncertain.

This announcement follows a period of growing public tension between Netanyahu and the U.S. administration. The U.S. has expressed concern that an invasion of Rafah, without adequate plans for the protection of civilians, could be catastrophic.

Despite assurances for civilians to take refuge in Rafah to escape ground fighting in the nearby city of Khan Younis, Israel has continued its airstrikes on Rafah. The most recent airstrikes targeted residential areas, killing 28, including multiple members from three families, with 10 children among the deceased.

In Khan Younis, where ground combat is ongoing, Israeli forces targeted Nasser Hospital, resulting in casualties among medical staff and patients. The hospital, now caught in the crossfire, houses hundreds of medical personnel, patients, and displaced individuals.

The escalating Palestinian death toll, which now nears 28,000 after four months of conflict, has strained relations between Netanyahu and the U.S. While Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties due to its operations within populated areas, the U.S. has urged Israel to limit its military actions. President Joe Biden has critiqued Israel’s tactics as excessive.

Israel argues that Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt and considered the last Hamas stronghold, is crucial to its objective of dismantling Hamas. Netanyahu’s strategy involves a combination of civilian evacuation and military operations to eliminate Hamas forces in Rafah.

The conflict has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, displacing approximately 80% of its population and exacerbating humanitarian crises, with severe shortages of food and medical supplies. The conflict was triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel, leading to Israel’s extensive military response, which has significantly impacted Gaza’s civilian population and infrastructure.