Israel planning separate, smaller operations in Rafah to preserve relations with US — Lebanese report

Israel is planning on launching separate operations in different areas in Rafah so as not to draw the ire of the United States and the international community, according to an Egyptian military official quoted by Lebanese media.

US President Joe Biden threatened this week to withhold offensive weapons from Israel if it launches a major offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city, where over one million Palestinians are sheltering amid the ongoing war.

Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar quotes the Egyptian official as saying that the situation in Rafah “is getting worse.”

Israel has said Hamas is seeking to prevent a military operation in Rafah because a full-scale invasion threatens to dismantle the terror group’s last major stronghold in Gaza, where four of its battalions are believed to remain standing.

An operation launched by Israel to take over the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday this week was apparently approved by the Biden administration.