Israel’s ground invasion of Rafah: Live updates

The besieged city in the south of the Gaza Strip currently hosts 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from other parts of the Strip.

Israeli tanks entered the southern Gaza city of Rafah earlier this week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that the operation, which had been postponed for months, was necessary to secure the area. “Total victory” On the Palestinian armed movement Hamas.

Rafah currently hosts approximately 1.4 million Palestinians displaced from other parts of Gaza as a result of Israeli air strikes and ground attacks since October 7.

The United Nations warned that an Israeli invasion would be tantamount to an invasion “catastrophe” For civilians, while US President Joe Biden threatened to stop the delivery of aid “hurtful” Weapons to Israel in the event of a large-scale invasion of the city.

Netanyahu was reluctant to give in to pressure from Washington, vowing that Israel would do so “Fighting with our nails” Against Hamas if the flow of American weapons stops.