On Wednesday, Israel sent tanks to raid Rafah and indicated that the war against Hamas militants in Gaza may continue into the next year. Washington previously remarked that Israel’s attack on Rafah did not constitute a significant ground operation, and was not enough to prompt the United States to change its policies.
Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to cease military operations in Rafah, Israeli tanks rolled into the city center for the first time on Tuesday. Israel stated that the aim was to eradicate Hamas fighters hiding in Rafah and rescue hostages in the area.
According to Reuters, Rafah residents reported that tanks advanced towards the western Tel Al-Sultan, central Yibna, and Shaboura, then headed towards the buffer zone bordering Egypt, instead of halting as in other areas.
Israel stated that it controls three-quarters of the buffer zone near the Egyptian border and intends to control the entire area to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons.
Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan stated that there are no signs of Rafah’s border crossing reopening soon for aid deliveries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi mentioned that the conflict in Gaza is expected to continue at least until after 2024. This indicates that Israel is not ready to accept Hamas’ ceasefire demands and consider them as part of a prisoner exchange agreement for Palestinian prisoners.
Hanegbi emphasized that “the battle in Rafah is not a meaningless war.” He reiterated that the purpose of the war is to end Hamas’ rule in Gaza and prevent Hamas and its allies from attacking Israel.
On Tuesday, Israel’s closest ally, the United States, reiterated its opposition to Israel launching a large-scale ground attack on Rafah while also expressing disbelief that Israel was taking such actions.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the mediator Qatar is expected to convey Israel’s latest ceasefire and hostage release proposals to Hamas on Tuesday. Hamas, however, stated that negotiations would be pointless unless Israel ends its attack on Rafah.
Hamas armed factions and allies such as the Islamic Jihad organization stated that they used anti-tank rockets and mortar shells to counter Israeli forces in Rafah and detonated explosive devices they had planted.
Public broadcaster Kan Radio reported that an explosion device inside a building in Rafah was detonated, resulting in three Israeli soldiers being killed and three others seriously injured, according to the Israeli military.
Pro-Hamas Shehab news agency, local residents, and other journalists mentioned that internet and mobile signals in parts of eastern and western Rafah were disrupted due to Israeli attacks, although the Israeli military stated they could not confirm these reports.
Reuters cited witnesses who reported that the Israeli military appeared to bring in remotely operated armored vehicles with no signs of anyone inside or around the vehicles. An Israeli military spokesperson did not immediately respond.
Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra urged the immediate opening of safe passages to allow fuel and medical aid teams to enter Rafah and northern Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu mentioned in a speech to parliament on Monday that “in Rafah, we have evacuated around 1 million non-combatant residents…we have made every effort not to harm non-combatants.”
The Israeli Defense Forces stated: “We have taken a series of measures to reduce the risk of harming non-combatants during attacks, including conducting aerial reconnaissance, using precision ammunition, and gathering more intelligence.”
The International Criminal Court accused Israel of not explaining how it guarantees the safety of evacuees in Rafah or how it provides them with food, water, and medicine. The ICC also called for Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release hostages seized from Israel on October 7 last year.
Medical personnel and Hamas media reported that Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis overnight resulted in three deaths, including former senior Hamas police officer Salama Baraka.
In northern Gaza, Israeli tanks shelled several residential areas in Gaza City, penetrating Jabalia, where residents said large residential areas had been destroyed.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry claimed that over 36,000 Palestinians have died during Israel’s attacks on Gaza. However, Hamas’ death toll statistics do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Some statisticians consider the death figures released by Hamas to be unreliable.
Currently, due to the slowdown in aid deliveries, malnutrition is widespread. Aid agencies blame Israel for obstructing the distribution of relief supplies, while Israel accuses aid organizations.
Two U.S. officials stated on Tuesday that due to severe weather conditions, the U.S. military’s aid pier set up along the Gaza coast has been partially damaged and cannot be repaired, further delaying relief efforts.
Armed Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7 last year. According to Israeli statistics, the attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, with over 250 people taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a war against Hamas-controlled Gaza, determined to completely eliminate Hamas.
(Adapted from reports by Reuters)