The Israeli military is moving deeper into Rafah to combat Hamas as tensions have escalated between the U.S. and Israel over the possibility of major fighting in Gaza’s southernmost city, which is providing shelter to about 1.3 million Palestinians.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Sunday that soldiers are carrying out targeted operations in specific areas of eastern Rafah. Israeli forces have destroyed tunnel entrances and rocket launchers and have reportedly killed at least ten Hamas fighters, according to the IDF.
On Saturday, the IDF issued evacuation orders for eastern Rafah, and Israel claims that 300,00 Palestinians have relocated to a humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, a small town on the coast of Gaza.
Israel initially entered Rafah last week and took control of a border crossing with Egypt that has been vital for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The operations seem to still be limited. The U.S. is cautioning against a major operation in Rafah, as President Biden is holding back around 3,500 heavy bombs due to concerns about their use in the densely populated city.
Biden has set a boundary on Rafah, stating he will not support an operation there and would not provide offensive weapons for such an attack, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country would continue to fight alone if necessary.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the U.S. warning that further weapons shipments could be halted if Israel launches a broader operation in Rafah.
“What we’ve been clear about is that if Israel launches this major military operation into Rafah, then there are certain systems that we’re not going to be supporting and supplying for that operation,” he told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
Despite the discord, Gen. Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, arrived in Israel over the weekend to coordinate and discuss the war against Hamas.
Israeli forces also returned to combat in northern Gaza in areas the military had previously cleared of Hamas, highlighting the resilience of the Palestinian militant group despite intense pressure from Israel.
Palestinian news agencies reported heavy bombardment at the Jabaliya refugee camp, with confrontations between Israeli forces and Hamas near schools.
The IDF said on Telegram it entered Jabaliya “based on intelligence information regarding attempts by Hamas to reassemble its terrorist infrastructure and operatives in the area” and also reported operations in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City, which had been cleared months ago.
Israel has repeatedly revisited areas it has cleared of Hamas fighters to combat a resurgence, but fighting in the north largely ended at the end of 2023, before Israeli troops shifted their focus to the south, including the city of Khan Yunis.
The conflict is occurring as the United Nations has declared a severe food shortage in northern Gaza and the rest of the territory is struggling to obtain essential supplies such as food and water.
After taking control of the Rafah checkpoint, Israel now oversees all of the border crossings for humanitarian aid. The IDF asserted on Sunday that it opened another crossing, western Erez, the third checkpoint in northern Gaza after eastern Erez and Gate 96.
The United Nations cautioned recently that there might be no more food to give out by Sunday.
That means people will only have what they already got. said Georgios Petropoulos, who leads the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, said that.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) mentioned that fuel is running out, causing local bakeries to close and the remaining hospitals to be in danger of stopping operations.
The humanitarian aid group IRC is urgently asking Israel to stop further violence in Rafah and across the Gaza Strip. said on X. It is crucial that all possible crossing points are opened immediately to ensure unblocked access to over two million Palestinians in desperate need, said the aid group.
