Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered [20] the Israeli military on Feb. 9 to draw up plans for the "evacuation" of Palestinians from Rafah in southern Gaza as it prepares to launch a full-scale assault on the area. Where people would be evacuated to—and how—remains unclear. Over one million Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israel's military campaign—now entering its fifth month [21]—have been pushed into Rafah. Aid groups warn [22] that there is nowhere left for people to flee to. People in Rafah are already experiencing disease and starvation, with aid operations struggling [21] to meet even basic needs. A ground invasion would "exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said [23].
On Feb. 7, Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire proposal put forward by Hamas, the Palestinian political and militant group that governs Gaza. Resisting growing US pressure for a long-term pause in fighting, he vowed that Israel will continue the war until it achieves "absolute victory." Many experts, however, believe [25] the goal of completely destroying [26] Hamas is unachievable, while others accuse Israel of waging a disproportionate response that could amount to ethnic cleansing [27] or even genocide [28].
From The New Humanitarian [29], Feb. 9
See our last report on genocide accusations [30] against Israel.
