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The Israeli government assures that the launch of its ground offensive in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, is only a matter of time. More than 1.4 million Palestinians who fled the war currently live in this city located in the south of the enclave.
The Israeli government assures us: the launch of the ground offensive in Rafah (Gaza Strip) is only a matter of time. “We believe we have destroyed at least 18 or 19 of the 24 Hamas battalions, and the 4 battalions that remain in Rafah cannot be protected from Israel. They will be attacked.”, indicated David Mencer, spokesperson for the Israeli government. More than 1.4 million Palestinians who fled the war live in this city in the south of the Gaza Strip. According to Egyptian sources, Israel is preparing to evacuate some of them to Khan Younes, a town three kilometers away.
For NGOs, the offensive should cause heavy civilian losses
Many NGOs say it will be impossible for many to leave Rafah, and the offensive is expected to cause heavy civilian casualties. Western countries, led by the United States, have asked Israel not to attack Rafah. But on the night of Wednesday April 24 to Thursday April 25, the Israeli army intensified its airstrikes, killing at least six Palestinians. A probable prelude to the ground offensive, before the evacuation of civilians in this southern city, bordering Egypt, and considered by the Hebrew state as the last bastion of Hamas.