An Israeli delegation was in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday to discuss the latest hostage release deal being proposed, while also talking about the upcoming IDF operation in Gaza’s southernmost city to dismantle the last Hamas battalions and destroy the weapons-smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egyptian border.
A successful rescue operation of two Israeli hostages early Monday in Rafah underscores the importance of the Hamas stronghold to Israel’s goal of freeing the remaining 134 hostages held by the terrorist group, with many believed to be in Rafah.
While the IDF has been instructed to prepare for the Rafah incursion following its operations in nearby Khan Yunis, international concern has increased about the civilians sheltered there.
According to Israel, there are four Hamas battalions positioned in the city along the Egyptian border, the population of which has swelled to some 1.5 million, more than half of Gaza’s total of 2.3 million, after the IDF directed northern Gazans to a humanitarian zone there when fighting began in October.
US President Joe Biden said on Monday that Israel “should not proceed” with a military operation in Rafah without a plan for the civilians sheltering in the area.
Conquering Rafah is essential to defeating Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated.
“Victory is within reach. We’re going to do it. We’re going to get the remaining Hamas terrorist battalions in Rafah, which is the last bastion, but we’re going to do it,” the premier told ABC News in an interview that aired on Sunday.
