Israeli officials have confirmed that preparations for Operation Rafah in the Gaza Strip are underway, with reports suggesting that the operation will begin “very soon”. A senior security official from Israel informed Reuters that the Israeli army is fully prepared to launch the operation and is waiting for political approval to proceed.
According to sources, the ground offensive in Rafah will be carried out in phases, dividing the city into defined areas. Before entering each area, the army (IDF) will inform the population so that civilians can evacuate shelters and homes in time. The armed forces have mobilized two brigades of reservists to return to southern Gaza and continue their defense and attack mission in the Strip under the command of the 99th Division.
However, there has been opposition from some quarters regarding this plan. The US government has expressed concern about entering Rafah without a credible plan to protect civilians, but Israeli officials maintain that completing this mission is necessary for both national security and potentially addressing issues related to hostages.
In an attempt to address these concerns, three senior Israeli officials recently visited Egypt to discuss Operation Rafah with key Egyptian officials. They met with Cairo’s head of intelligence and other top-ranking officials to discuss potential concerns about entering Rafah, where many displaced Palestinians reside after fleeing other areas of Gaza due to bombings. Despite these concerns, Egypt has warned Israel against entering its border city due to its impact on civilians.