The increasing Palestinian death toll, nearing 28,000 due to the four-month conflict as reported by Gaza health officials, has escalated tensions between Netanyahu’s administration and the U.S. government. While Israel attributes the civilian casualties to Hamas’ tactics of operating within populated areas, the U.S. has urged for more precise military actions. President Biden recently criticized Israel’s military response as excessive. In addition, Egypt has warned that any movement of Palestinians across the border into Egypt would threaten the four-decade-old peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. The border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which is mostly closed, serves as the main entry point for humanitarian aid. Rafah had a prewar population of roughly 280,000, and according to the United Nations is now home to some 1.4 million additional people living with relatives, in shelters or sprawling tent camps after fleeing fighting elsewhere in Gaza.
Quick Read
- Palestinian casualties near 28,000 in four-month conflict, heightening U.S.-Israel tensions.
- U.S. calls for more targeted military actions; President Biden labels Israel’s response as overly aggressive.
- Netanyahu identifies Rafah as Hamas’ last stronghold, plans civilian evacuation amidst widespread destruction.
- Potential Palestinian movement into Egypt could breach the longstanding Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
- Rafah’s swelling population, due to displaced Gazans, highlights the humanitarian crisis in densely populated conflict zones.
The Associated Press has the story:
Tensions rise between Netanyahu and U.S. amid planned Rafah invasion
Newslooks- RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) —
The increasing Palestinian death toll, nearing 28,000 due to the four-month conflict as reported by Gaza health officials, has escalated tensions between Netanyahu’s administration and the U.S. government. While Israel attributes the civilian casualties to Hamas’ tactics of operating within populated areas, the U.S. has urged for more precise military actions. President Biden recently criticized Israel’s military response as excessive.
Netanyahu’s office has declared Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt, as the final stronghold of Hamas in Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive military strategy to dismantle Hamas’ presence there. This strategy includes plans for a large-scale evacuation of civilians from combat zones, although the devastation caused by the Israeli military campaign has left many without homes to return to.
The prospect of Palestinians crossing into Egypt raises concerns about violating the longstanding peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. The Rafah crossing, largely closed, remains a crucial point for humanitarian aid entry.
With Rafah’s population significantly increased by displaced individuals from other parts of Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire, underscoring the complex challenges of military operations in densely populated regions.
