Israeli Forces Prepare to Take Over Strategic City of Rafah
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are gearing up to take over the city of Rafah, a crucial site for terrorism in the Gaza Strip. The 14.5 km long Philadelphia (Salah al-Din) axis, which includes the Rafah Crossing – the official crossing between Gaza and Egypt, is the most important strategic site within Rafah.
The IDF has already begun bombing to destroy tunnels in the area, and there are reports that the IDF is demanding that Egyptian soldiers clear the axis in preparation for an attack. The area has been a main artery for terrorism into Gaza, with smuggling routes from Libya and Iran that have been utilized over the years.
Egypt has taken action in the past to evacuate and cleanse Rafah of terrorism, and there have been efforts to block smuggling into Gaza. However, the recent overcrowding in Rafah due to refugees fleeing the war in the north of the Gaza Strip has made the situation more complicated.
Taking over Rafah will not be easy, as it is clear that Hamas will invest its utmost efforts to prevent the IDF from taking over its central smuggling area. Israel will also have to confront reactions from the international community when they halt humanitarian aid at the Rafah crossing and the Kerem Shalom crossing during the operation.
Dr. Yaron Friedman, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Haifa, emphasized the importance of maintaining control of the Philadelphia axis to prevent the growth of new terrorism in the region.
As the tension continues to mount, the world waits to see how the situation in Rafah will unfold and what the implications will be for the ongoing conflict in Gaza.