Israel's military has instructed tens of thousands of individuals in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to commence evacuating, indicating a potential ground invasion on the horizon. This development has complicated last-minute efforts by international mediators to negotiate a cease-fire, with warnings from Hamas and Qatar that an invasion could disrupt the talks.
Rafah has been identified by Israel as the final significant Hamas stronghold following seven months of conflict. Israeli leaders have emphasized the necessity of a ground invasion to defeat the Islamic militant group. The army spokesperson stated that approximately 100,000 people are being directed to relocate to a nearby humanitarian zone called Muwasi. The operation is described as 'limited scope,' and it remains unclear if this marks the start of a broader invasion.
Israeli Airstrike in Lebanon Injures Three
An Israeli airstrike in northeastern Lebanon resulted in three individuals sustaining injuries and a building being destroyed, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The strike targeted a factory in the eastern Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on a Hezbollah military structure in Safri.
Following the airstrike, Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets towards northern Israel after an Israeli airstrike near the border killed four Lebanese civilians. The Lebanon-Israel border has witnessed frequent exchanges of fire since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have led to the deaths of over 350 individuals, primarily fighters from Hezbollah and allied groups, along with more than 50 civilians. In Israel, strikes from Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of at least 10 civilians and 12 soldiers.
