Prime Minister Binymin Netanyahu announces he has set a date for the Israeli Defense Forces to launch its offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza. In a video statement released on Monday, Netanyahu says, “Victory [over Hamas] requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen. There is a date.”
While the prime minister pledges this, he still hasn’t revealed the date. Troops aren’t expected to enter Rafah in the immediate future, especially after the IDF’s recent withdrawal from Khan Younis. Israel’s international allies are worried about the Rafah offensive, as the city is populated with 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.
The IDF says it plans to set up humanitarian islands in the center of the city as well as evacuation sites along the coast. Four Hamas battalions are suspected to be based in Rafah. Israel also believes many Hamas leaders are hiding in Rafah, and likely holding hostages there as well.
