2024-04-26 02:48:00
The Israeli army withdrew its main infantry brigade stationed in the Gaza Strip to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based. The Israeli army said in a statement on the 25th: “We have withdrawn the “Nahal Infantry Brigade” to prepare for operations in Rafah and other areas. Earlier, on the 7th, the Israeli army withdrew most of the troops deployed in the Gaza Strip, but left behind the Nahal infantry brigade to protect the “Netjarim crossing”, a road leading from the Gaza barrier. separation east of the Gaza Strip to the western coast of the Mediterranean. The current mission of this infantry brigade will be carried out by the 679th Armored Brigade and the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the Israeli army.
The Israeli Army’s Nahal Infantry Brigade was established in 1982 and was the main unit deployed during the two Lebanon Wars as well as the 1st and 2nd Intifada (popular anti-Israeli uprising in Palestine). With the withdrawal of the Nahal infantry brigade from the Gaza Strip, speculation is growing about the imminence of an Israeli army operation aimed at penetrating Rafah, considered the last stronghold of Hamas. Recently, local media reported that Israel had built a large tent camp near Rafah to evacuate refugees and that Israeli military leaders had discussed the issue of Egypt’s Rafah attack. The British Guardian reported: “Rafah is located on the Egyptian border, so large-scale land operations will require cooperation with the Egyptian government. AP reported: “Israeli forces are concentrating dozens of tanks and armored vehicles near Rafah,” and “this appears to be a sign of an attack on Rafah.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also recently said his troops’ operation to enter Rafah was “being promoted.” The precise timetable was not disclosed. “The army can be put into operation immediately and is just waiting for Netanyahu’s approval,” an Israeli Defense Ministry official told Reuters. The Israeli government estimates that 129 of the 250 people kidnapped in Hamas’ airstrike against Israel on October 7 are still in the Gaza Strip and says Hamas is using them as “human shields” in Rafah. Accordingly, the position is that a ground operation in Rafa is necessary for the return of the hostages.
Meanwhile, on the 24th, Hamas released a video of Hershey Goldberg Pauline, a hostage with dual American and Israeli nationality. On October 7 last year, he was kidnapped by Hamas while staying at Kibbutz Leim (collective farm) in southern Israel to attend a music festival. In the video released that day, Pauline Goldberg appeared to have lost her left hand. He said: “I have been held captive for almost 200 days” and added: “I call on the Israeli government to return the hostages alive.” As the Israeli operation to enter Rafah looms, analysis has emerged that Hamas is urging the international community, including the US government, to put pressure on Israel. Israel’s allies, including the United States, have expressed opposition to the Israeli military operation to enter Rafah, fearing it could cause civilian casualties and disrupt the delivery of relief supplies to the Strip. Gaza.
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