Huge blast hits Rafah as Palestinians brace for Israeli ground offensive

#israel #rafah #hamas
A huge explosion hit the city of Rafah in southern Gaza over the weekend, as Palestinians sheltering there brace for an Israeli ground offensive. The IDF is hitting Rafah, the last holdout of Hamas in Gaza, with airstrikes ahead of an expected incursion by ground forces which has been on hold for weeks. America and other Israeli allies oppose an attack because the city is currently home to 1million Palestinians who have fled other areas of the strip. But Benjamin Netanyahu argues it is necessary to wipe out Hamas as a fighting force and bring home all hostages taken during the October 7 attack. Israeli ground operations are continuing elsewhere in the strip, though at a reduced scale compared to previous months. Video from the elite Nahal Brigade showed troops operating in the central Gaza Strip, which has been under IDF control since late last year. #israel #hamas #rafah