Israel is gearing up for a significant military operation in Rafah, with plans to evacuate Palestinian civilians and target the last Hamas stronghold.

David Mencer, a spokesman for Israel’s prime minister, confirmed the operation as revealed by the Washington Post, emphasizing efforts to minimize civilian casualties.

“We are moving ahead with our operation to target Hamas in Rafah. We will, as usual, be making every effort to move civilians out of harm’s way,” Mencer stated.

Preparations in Southern Gaza

In anticipation of the assault, extensive preparations are underway in southern Gaza. Satellite imagery and online videos have revealed the construction of large tent camps near Khan Younis and Rafah.

These camps have expanded rapidly, with the footprint of tents near Al-Aqsa University nearly tripling in size within two weeks.

Another camp, close to the Egyptian border, continues to grow, indicating preparations for a large-scale displacement.

A month ago, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a major assault on Rafah would be a mistake.

On Wednesday, Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid bill, which includes $26 billion in funds for Israel and humanitarian aid for Gaza among others. Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked the U.S. Senate for its strong support.

Turkey has criticized the U.S. for what it perceived as double standards in human rights policies. The Turkish foreign ministry expressed concerns that the U.S. annual rights report does not adequately address the ongoing conflicts in Gaza.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck 40 Hezbollah targets in the region, targeting storage facilities, weaponry, and other terror-related infrastructures.

Market Reactions

Israeli stocks, as tracked by the iShares MSCI Israel ETF EIS traded 0.8% lower at midday trading Wednesday. Oil prices were 0.6% lower, while gold inched 0.1% higher.

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