Israeli strikes hit Rafah after PM warned to have ’credible’ plan to protect civilians

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RAFAH, Gaza Strip — A collection of Israeli strikes early Monday hit Rafah, town on the southern fringe of the Gaza Strip the place 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to flee combating elsewhere within the four-month Israel-Hamas warfare.

Israel has been signalling its floor offensive in Gaza could quickly goal the densely populated metropolis on the Egyptian border. On Sunday, the White Home mentioned U.S. President Joe Biden had warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel mustn’t conduct a navy operation towards Hamas in Rafah and not using a “credible and executable” plan to guard civilians.

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The strikes hit round Kuwait Hospital early Monday morning, an Related Press journalist in Rafah mentioned. A few of these wounded within the strikes had been delivered to the hospital.

The Israeli navy mentioned it struck “terror targets within the space of Shaboura” — which is a district in Rafah. The navy assertion mentioned the collection of strikes had concluded, with out elaborating on the targets or assessing the potential harm or casualties.

Palestinian well being officers didn’t instantly provide any casualty info.

Biden’s remarks had been his most forceful language but on the doable operation. Biden, who final week known as Israel’s navy response in Gaza “excessive,” additionally sought “pressing and particular” steps to strengthen humanitarian support. Israel’s Channel 13 tv mentioned the dialog lasted 45 minutes.

Dialogue of the potential for a ceasefire settlement took up a lot of the decision, a senior U.S. administration official mentioned, and after weeks of diplomacy a “framework” is now “just about” in place for a deal that would see the discharge of remaining hostages held by Hamas in change for a halt to combating.

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The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate negotiations, acknowledged that “gaps stay,” however declined to provide particulars. The official mentioned navy strain on Hamas within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis in current weeks helped deliver the group nearer to accepting a deal.

Netanyahu’s workplace declined to touch upon the decision. Hamas’ Al-Aqsa tv station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying any invasion of Rafah would “blow up” the talks mediated by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officers and a western diplomat mentioned Egypt threatened to droop its peace treaty with Israel if troops are despatched into Rafah, the place Egypt fears combating may push Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula and power the closure of Gaza’s primary support provide route.

The menace to droop the Camp David Accords, a cornerstone of regional stability for almost a half-century, got here after Netanyahu mentioned sending troops into Rafah was essential to win the four-month warfare towards Hamas. He asserted that Hamas has 4 battalions there.

Over half of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million have fled to Rafah to flee combating in different areas, and they’re packed into tent camps and UN-run shelters. Egypt fears a mass inflow of Palestinian refugees who could by no means be allowed to return.

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Netanyahu advised Fox Information Sunday that there’s “loads of room north of Rafah for them to go to” after Israel’s offensive elsewhere in Gaza, and mentioned Israel would direct evacuees with “flyers, with cellphones and with secure corridors and different issues.” However the offensive has prompted widespread destruction, with little capability to absorb individuals.

The standoff between Israel and Egypt, two shut U.S. allies, took form as support teams warned that an offensive in Rafah would worsen the catastrophic humanitarian scenario in Gaza. About 80% of residents have fled their properties, and the UN says 1 / 4 of the inhabitants faces hunger.

A floor operation in Rafah may minimize off one of many solely avenues for delivering meals and medical provides. Forty-four vans of support entered Gaza on Sunday, mentioned Wael Abu Omar, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Crossings Authority. About 500 entered day by day earlier than the warfare.

WHERE WOULD CIVILIANS GO?

Officers spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to transient reporters on the delicate negotiations. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and different international locations have additionally warned of extreme repercussions if Israel goes into Rafah.

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“An Israeli offensive on Rafah would result in an unspeakable humanitarian disaster and grave tensions with Egypt,” European Union international coverage chief Josep Borrell wrote on X. Human Rights Watch mentioned pressured displacement is a warfare crime.

Israel and Egypt fought 5 wars earlier than signing the Camp David Accords, brokered by the U.S., within the late Nineteen Seventies. The settlement consists of provisions governing the deployment of forces on each side of the closely fortified border.

Egyptian officers concern that if the border is breached, the navy can be unable to cease a tide of individuals fleeing into the Sinai Peninsula.

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The United Nations says Rafah, usually house to fewer than 300,000 individuals, now hosts 1.4 million extra and is “severely overcrowded.”

Inside Rafah, some displaced individuals packed up once more. Rafat and Fedaa Abu Haloub, who fled Beit Lahia within the north earlier within the warfare, positioned their belongings onto a truck. “We don’t know the place we are able to safely take him,” Fedaa mentioned of their child. “Each month we’ve to maneuver.”

Om Mohammad Al-Ghemry, displaced from Nuseirat, mentioned she hoped Egypt wouldn’t enable Israel to power Palestinians to flee into the Sinai “as a result of we don’t need to depart.”

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112 BODIES TAKEN TO HOSPITALS

Heavy combating continues in central Gaza and Khan Younis.

Gaza’s Well being Ministry mentioned Sunday that the our bodies of 112 individuals killed throughout the territory had been delivered to hospitals prior to now 24 hours. The demise toll is 28,176 because the begin of the warfare. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters however says most of these killed had been ladies and youngsters.

The warfare started with Hamas’ assault into southern Israel on Oct. 7, when Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 individuals and kidnapped round 250. Over 100 hostages had been launched throughout a ceasefire in November.

Hamas received’t launch extra except Israel ends its offensive and withdraws from Gaza. Netanyahu has dominated out each calls for.

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