Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has announced that the military’s focus will now shift to Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, as military operations continue in the region. This comes as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled to Rafah following Israeli operations in other parts of Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported killing dozens of Hamas fighters in the past day, with their attacks concentrated in western Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip. Gallant visited Khan Younis on Thursday and expressed confidence that the military is achieving its mission in the area. He stated, “we will also reach Rafah and eliminate terror elements that threaten us.”
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a staggering death toll of 27,131 people since October 7, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. The ministry reports that about 70% of casualties are women and children. While the ministry does not distinguish between Hamas fighters and civilians in its reporting, the United Nations and a senior US official have acknowledged the accuracy of previous casualty numbers provided by the Health Ministry.
In other developments, an Iran-backed proxy group operating in Iraq, Al-Nujaba, has pledged to continue attacking US forces until they withdraw from Iraq and Israeli operations cease in Gaza. This announcement comes after Kataib Hezbollah, another powerful Iranian proxy in Iraq, declared a suspension of their operations against US forces earlier this week.
The United States has imposed sanctions on four settlers in the West Bank who are accused of perpetrating violence or intimidation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on Israel to do more to address settler violence, which has been escalating since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.
As the IDF prepares to target Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, it estimates that it has already killed around 10,000 Hamas fighters and wounded 10,000 more. However, these figures cannot be independently verified by CNN.
The fighting in Gaza continues to rage, with the IDF reporting the killing of dozens of Hamas fighters in western Khan Younis. Close-quarters combat and airstrikes have been utilized to target terrorists operating in the area.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main refugee agency in Gaza, has warned that it may have to halt its work across the Middle East by the end of February. This is due to nearly 20 countries suspending funding to the organization after Israel alleged that some of its staff were involved in Hamas’ attack on October 7. UNRWA has taken action by firing several employees and conducting further investigations.
Hamas has stated that its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, received a proposal for a hostage deal at a meeting in Paris. The deal involves officials from Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and the US and aims to secure the release of hostages and establish a sustained pause in the fighting. However, there has been no definitive response from Hamas to the proposal according to Barbara Leaf, the top US State Department official for the Middle East.
As the situation in Gaza remains tense, it is crucial to closely monitor the developments on the ground. The focus on Rafah by the Israeli military signifies a shift in operations, while the escalating violence and casualties highlight the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict. The international community’s involvement, particularly in addressing settler violence and providing funding for humanitarian efforts, will play a crucial role in bringing stability to the region.