In recent developments regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces have been moving deeper into residential areas of eastern Rafah since Tuesday morning, suggesting that they could be preparing for a larger offensive in the city. Approximately 450,000 people have fled Rafah since a partial evacuation was ordered and tanks were sent in. The United States has urged Israel not to launch a major offensive in Rafah and to ensure humanitarian precautions, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that even if Israel goes in with heavy action, there would still be thousands of armed Hamas members left. The U.S. administration also will not transfer offensive weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has overwhelmingly voted for Palestine's rights and called on the UN Security Council to favorably reconsider Palestine's request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. In Deir el-Balah, Palestinians are receiving humanitarian aid.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have amassed personnel on the edge of Rafah, indicating that they could be ready to go into other areas of the city. However, it is unclear whether Israel has made a final decision about when and how to proceed with an offensive. The UN human rights chief Volker Türk has urged against a full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, as there is no safe place for the displaced population to go.
The latest evacuation orders affect close to a million people in Rafah. Hamas claimed that British-Israeli hostage Nadav Popplewell died of wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike more than a month ago. The families of hostages have urged for a ceasefire deal, and there have been nationwide protests.
The IDF's evacuation order exposes Israeli weak spots, as Hamas has used the opportunity to launch attacks on military targets. More than 35,000 people in Gaza have died since the war began with the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas. The attacks killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and took around 250 others hostage.
