The Israeli navy mentioned on Monday it had conducted a “series of strikes” on southern Gaza which have now “concluded”, with out offering additional particulars.
Earlier than earlier assaults on Gaza cities, Israel’s navy has ordered civilians to depart with out making ready any particular evacuation plan.
US President Joe Biden instructed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that Israel shouldn’t launch a navy operation in Rafah and not using a credible plan to make sure the protection of the roughly 1 million individuals sheltering there, the White Home mentioned.
Help companies say an assault on Rafah can be catastrophic. It’s the final comparatively protected place in an enclave devastated by Israel’s navy offensive.
Biden and Netanyahu spoke for about 45 minutes, days after the US chief mentioned Israel’s navy response within the Gaza Strip had been “excessive” and expressed grave concern over the rising civilian demise toll within the Palestinian enclave.
Netanyahu’s workplace has mentioned that it had ordered the navy to develop a plan to evacuate Rafah and destroy 4 Hamas battalions it says are deployed there.
Hamas militants killed 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and kidnapped a minimum of 250 of their Oct 7 incursion, based on Israeli tallies. Israel has responded with a navy assault on the Gaza Strip that has killed greater than 28,000 Palestinians, based on the Hamas-run well being ministry.
Netanyahu mentioned in an interview aired on Sunday that “sufficient” of the 132 remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been alive to justify Israel’s conflict within the area.
Hamas-run Aqsa Tv on Sunday quoted a senior Hamas chief as saying any Israeli floor offensive in Rafah would “blow up” the hostage-exchange negotiations.
Egypt warned on Sunday of “dire penalties” of a possible Israeli navy assault on Rafah, which lies close to its border.
“Egypt referred to as for the need of uniting all worldwide and regional efforts to stop the focusing on of the Palestinian metropolis of Rafah,” its international ministry added in a press release.