After Khan Younis, IDF now prepares for ground attack in Rafah

Tel Aviv: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is now preparing for a military operation in Rafah after ending the Khan Younis operation in southern Gaza. Israeli Defense Ministry sources told IANS that preparations are being made for a ground offensive in Rafah. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant met with senior officers of the IDF’s 98th Division on Sunday to discuss the Rafah operation. Israel’s allies, including the US and other Western powers, have called on Israel not to launch a ground offensive into Rafah, fearing it would cause great harm to civilians. It is noteworthy that Rafa is a densely populated area. According to an estimate, 1.3 million people live here. Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, expressed concerns over the possible Rafah operation to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a visit to Egypt in March.