The Israeli army is preparing to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, the far south of the Gaza Strip. According to a senior Israeli security official, the operation is expected to begin “very soon”. The plan for the operation has been presented to American officials and other agencies in the region, and it will be carried out in phases, dividing the city into defined areas. Before advancing into each area, the army (IDF) will inform the population so that civilians can evacuate shelters and homes in time.
Two brigades of reservists have been mobilized to return to southern Gaza and continue the defense and attack mission under the command of the 99th Division. Additionally, two reserve brigades are being moved from northern Israel to the border with Lebanon. The IDF has approved the latest plan for the Rafah operation, despite previous suggestions for three different plans. However, there has been opposition from some sources who fear entering Rafah could lead to civilian casualties due to displaced Palestinians residing there after fleeing other areas of Gaza due to bombings.
According to Axios, three senior Israeli officials recently visited Egypt to discuss the upcoming offensive with Egyptian intelligence officials. They met with key figures in Cairo’s intelligence community and addressed concerns about entering Rafah and its potential impact on civilians. Egypt has warned Israel against entering Rafah due to these concerns, but Israeli officials remain adamant that entering Rafah is necessary to complete their mission and potentially address issues related to hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.