Fox: The world saw on Sunday the first view of the extent of the impact of the possible ground invasion of Rafah (Anatolia)
In a report, the American website "Fox" presented the bitter reality of the residents and displaced people in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and the "dangerous" Israeli escalation there, considering that an absolute humanitarian catastrophe would befall the city if further escalation occurred.
The report, written by the site’s correspondent, Nicole Naria, began by saying that last Sunday, the world saw the first view of the extent of the impact of the possible Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, noting that the Israeli raids on the city come amid reports that Israel is considering invading this area, which Israel claims is the last remaining stronghold. of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Naria explained that the Rafah invasion requires large-scale evacuations. The city's population is approximately five times larger than it was before the war, and is swelled by displaced people fleeing the fighting in the northern and central Gaza Strip. Residents of Rafah cannot go any further south as the city is adjacent to Gaza's closed border with Egypt.
Netanyahu threatens
She said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the pressure and intensifying protests calling for flexibility to release prisoners in Gaza, vowed to continue fighting until a "complete victory" was achieved, including the complete destruction of Hamas.
It stated that this desired victory seems unlikely given Hamas’ steadfastness so far in the face of Israeli attacks. It is not clear that a more aggressive operation in Rafah will change that.
She explained that ground battles in the densely populated area could cause significant civilian casualties, something that could support the genocide claim filed against Israel in The Hague.
An invasion scenario is also likely to lead critics of the war to put renewed pressure on Israel's allies, especially the United States, to intervene.
American batch
The writer emphasized that if Israel intends to invade Rafah, the only thing that can truly stop it is a major American push that may require the United States to be more determined and to use more of the tools of influence it has, whether diplomatic support or military aid.
It quoted Michael Hanna, director of the US program at the International Crisis Group, as saying that what is hoped from Washington does not seem likely to happen, adding, “I think it is the kind of juncture at which American influence must be used because of the seriousness of the extent of the consequences.”
Disastrous scenario
Naria continued to explain the disastrous scenario of the expected invasion, saying that it would be so due to the city’s crowding and location, and would inevitably lead to huge losses among civilians.
It would also significantly impede the delivery of much-needed supplies at a time when Palestinians are thirsty and hungry, and Gaza's hospitals are under siege.
"There is no space in Rafah. There are hundreds of thousands of people who tried to find a safe place and have nowhere to go," Lisa Machiner, MSF's project coordinator in Gaza, was quoted as saying.
Machiner adds that the invasion will lead to a massive Palestinian rush towards Egypt. If that happens, it could lead to a serious crisis in the Middle East, where a regional conflict is already brewing.
Regarding the possibilities of implementing Netanyahu’s promise, the writer said that some Israeli analysts say that what the Israeli Prime Minister is saying may be just a speech aimed at extracting more concessions from Hamas in the negotiations, and Israel will not want to risk further alienating its largest strategic partners.
It quoted John Alterman, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that Netanyahu is skilled at feigning harshness while at the same time behaving cautiously, asking, “Is this what he is doing now? I don’t know.”
Source: Fox