Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel will not be evacuating Palestinian civilians from southern Gaza’s Rafah to Egypt, although it remains unclear where they will be sent to when the IDF launches its expected offensive in the area.
“The State of Israel has no intention of evacuating Palestinian civilians to Egypt. We respect and value our peace agreement with Egypt, which is a cornerstone of stability in the region as well as an important partner,” Gallant says in a briefing with foreign press.
He says the IDF and defense establishment are “thoroughly planning future operations in Rafah, which is a significant Hamas stronghold.”
“There were 24 [Hamas] battalions in Gaza, we have dismantled 18 of them. Now, Rafah is the next Hamas center of gravity,” Gallant says.
He says that “the IDF takes extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties, and is operating in accordance with international law.”
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 16, 2024
