Latest Updates on Israel’s Offensive in Rafah and Gaza

Israel’s Defense Minister Sends More Troops into Rafah as Fighting Rages in Gaza

Israel’s defense minister has announced the deployment of additional troops into Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, as fighting intensifies in both northern Gaza and Rafah, where Hamas has regrouped. The military operation in Rafah has been portrayed as a strategic move to eliminate the last Hamas stronghold, despite warnings from the United States and other allies about the potential catastrophic impact on civilians.

South Africa has taken urgent action at the U.N.’s top court to halt Israel’s escalating offensive in Rafah, describing it as a destructive force that could lead to the complete destruction of Gaza. The situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with 1.1 million Palestinians on the brink of starvation due to the lack of food entering the region through the main border crossings.

The United Nations reports that around 600,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah in the past week alone, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ongoing war, which began on October 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, has claimed the lives of over 35,000 people in Gaza, with the majority being women and children.

As the conflict continues to escalate, the Arab League has called for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza and placed blame on Israel for obstructing cease-fire negotiations. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the top U.N. court holding hearings on Israel’s military incursion into Rafah.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Gaza for the latest updates on the situation.