Enlarge image

Street scene in Rafah: "People don't know where to go"

Photo:

Mohammed Abed / AFP

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is ordering preparations for the evacuation of Rafah in the Gaza war. According to the United Nations Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA), concern is growing in the city. "There is a feeling of growing fear, growing panic in Rafah," said leader Philippe Lazzarini. "People don't know where to go." It is also unclear how long the plant can operate "with such a high-risk operation." At the same time, the UN World Food Program warned that the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip was increasing.

Netanyahu said on Friday that a "massive operation" was needed in Rafah. He had asked security officials to present a "dual plan" that included the evacuation of civilians and a military operation to "destroy" the remaining militant Hamas units.

Meanwhile, the rating agency Moody's downgraded Israel's credit rating from "A1" to "A2". The reason given was that the "military conflict with Hamas" and its consequences would "increase political risk for Israel and weaken its (Israel's) executive and legislative institutions and its fiscal strength for the foreseeable future."

Moody's also cut its outlook for Israel's debt to "negative," citing "the risk of escalation" in the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Battles with Hezbollah

Meanwhile, the Shiite militia Hezbollah and the Israeli armed forces fought again in the Israeli-Lebanese border area. According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah fired several rockets into northern Israel. No people were injured. In response to the attack, Israeli fighter jets bombed a military facility in Marun al-Ras, southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah militiamen were said to have been active, the Israeli military said. Warplanes also attacked military bases in Johmor and Nakura. Israel also used artillery to attack targets across the border in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Syrian media reported an Israeli attack on targets near Damascus. The Israeli military fired on the Damascus area from the Golan Heights, the state-run Syrian news agency (Sana) said, citing a military source. Violent explosions were heard west of the Syrian capital. The Syrian air defense shot down some of the rockets. Sana further reported that there was only material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a residential building west of the Syrian capital was hit.

sol/dpa/AFP/Reuters