Intensification of operations in Rafah: Netanyahu promises to destroy Hamas

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced that he will intensify operations in the city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. He considers the battle in this city to be "decisive" and has promised to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian movement which he holds responsible for an attack that occurred on October 7th. The Israeli army has ordered the intensification of ground operations in Rafah, despite international warnings against an invasion. Netanyahu has stated that they will focus on the "escape and supply routes" of Hamas in Rafah, where it is believed the last battalions of the Islamist group are located. The Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has announced that more troops will enter the city and military activity will be intensified in the area. The situation in Rafah has led to the evacuation of approximately 600,000 civilians from the eastern sectors of the city since May 6th, according to information provided by the UN. Netanyahu has assured that this evacuation has prevented a "humanitarian catastrophe" in Rafah, where around 1.4 million Gazans were located. Israel's actions in Rafah have raised international concern, especially in the United States, the country's main ally. South Africa has accused Israel of carrying out "genocide" in Gaza and has requested the International Court of Justice to order a halt to the offensive in Rafah. South African representatives have denounced that the Israeli military campaign has targeted children and women, destroyed civilian infrastructure, and caused famine among the population. In response to South Africa's accusations, Israel has defended its commitment to international law and has described the accusations as "completely unfounded." Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations has stated that the short notice given for the ICJ hearings did not allow for adequate legal preparation. Despite the tensions and international accusations, Israel has announced the installation of a temporary dock on a beach in Gaza to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to the region. This aid is expected to start arriving in the coming days, while the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has remained closed since the start of the Israeli operation. The conflict in Rafah was triggered by a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7th, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians. Israel has reported over 250 people kidnapped during the attack, with 128 still held captive in Gaza. Israeli military reprisals, in turn, have claimed the lives of at least 35,272 people in Gaza, mostly civilians. The situation in Rafah continues to be a cause for international concern, with calls to stop the violence and ensure access to humanitarian aid for the affected population.