Senior U.S. government official said that the Israeli military is preparing to carry out ground operations in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
White House National Security Advisor Kirby said at a press conference on the 15th that a large-scale operation would be a disaster. He went on to clarify that discussions were continuing, saying, ``We are continuing to have discussions with the Israeli side about what the plan will be.'' Israeli forces storm hospital in southern Khan Yunis. Middle Eastern satellite television station Al Jazeera reported that the situation was "catastrophic"