- Palestinians relocated to “humanitarian islands”
- No timeframe for Rafah operation
- UN, US warn of catastrophic results
Gaza’s dispersed Palestinians will be relocated to “humanitarian islands” in the strip’s center, according to the Israeli military, before any offensive in the southern city of Rafah.
There, after escaping the fighting in the northern and central regions between Israeli troops and Hamas, more than 1.4 million individuals have sought refuge.
There is currently no timeframe for when the operation might take place.
The United Nations and the United States have warned that a full-scale assault on Rafah could have catastrophic results.
Israel has consistently declared the necessity for such an operation, insinuating that Rafah must be targeted to eliminate Hamas from Gaza.
The Israeli military initiated an offensive in Gaza on October 7, following the demise of approximately 1,200 individuals in southern Israel at the hands of Hamas militants, who also abducted 253 others. Since then, the health ministry of Gaza, which Hamas heads, reports that over 31,300 persons have been killed in the territory.
What the proposed “humanitarian islands” would resemble or how they would operate is currently unknown.
Back Adm. In a briefing to journalists, Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), indicated that assistance would be extended to those who relocated to temporary housing.
However, numerous logistical inquiries remain that require resolution.
It could take weeks to relocate more than half of Gaza’s population from Rafah to the strip’s center.
Fuel for automobiles is currently scarce, so most individuals would be forced to revert to walking while transporting their possessions.
Since the Palestinians are weakened and hungrier than they were five months ago, large-scale movement would also be slowed.
The proposed relocation site of the Israelis is the central portion of the strip, which has sustained severe damage from multiple air and ground attacks.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he “needed to see a plan to get civilians out of harm’s way” and ensure they had food, shelter, and medication before approving any ground operation in Rafah. However, he had not yet received additional information.
A member of Israel’s war cabinet, Benny Gantz, had proposed that if no new captive release agreement could be reached by the commencement of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a fresh military operation would be initiated in Rafah.
Although that event did not transpire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to refer to it in his public speeches.
We must destroy the residual Hamas battalions in Rafah to prevail in this conflict, stated Mr. Netanyahu in a speech on Tuesday. If not, Hamas will reorganize, resupply, and reconquer Gaza, bringing the situation back to square one.
Additionally, the IDF would have to reinforce its forces before launching a new ground offensive. A considerable number of reservists who were mobilized during the initial stages of the conflict are presently discharged and would require readjustment to their operational obligations.
According to remarks made to journalists by Rear Adm Hagari, the IDF was attempting to inundate Gaza with humanitarian assistance through the establishment of numerous land, sea, and air routes.
He stated that this week, US military experts were scheduled to visit Israel to consult with the IDF regarding a proposal to construct a temporary pier and floating port off the coast of Gaza. It could receive food, water, and medication in container loads.
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Mr. Blinken emphasized that the floating dock, whose full operation will require one to two months, would “complement rather than replace other methods of transporting humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
He stated that overland routes are the most vital means of transporting aid to those in need.
In Gaza, the United Nations has warned that 500,000 people are on the verge of starvation.
As the occupying entity, Israel is obligated to ensure that civilians have access to food and medicine.
