by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – The United Nations (UN) reported that 800,000 civilians have been “forced to flee” from Rafah since the IDF began its operation in the city’s east. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that two soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza the previous day. Meanwhile, Hamas terrorists launched rockets at southern Israel as military operations intensified.
Amid intense battles across Gaza, the IDF announced that the air force struck over 70 targets on Saturday, including weapon depots, infrastructure, and buildings belonging to terror groups, as well as operatives. Ground forces operated in Rafah, Jabaliya in the north, and the Netzarim Corridor.
One of the airstrikes in Rafah targeted a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative, whom the IDF identified as the head of logistics for the terror group in southern Gaza. “As part of his role, he was responsible for preparing the enemy for the IDF maneuver in Rafah,” the military said.
The United Nations reported on Saturday evening that around 800,000 people have evacuated Rafah since May 6, when the IDF initially ordered 100,000 civilians to leave the area ahead of a “limited scope operation.” Originally home to about 280,000 people, Rafah’s population surged to over 1.5 million during the ongoing war, as civilians from across the Gaza Strip fled south to escape the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
According to Hebrew media reports, Israeli officials plan to persuade the US to approve an expanded operation in Rafah when US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan arrives in Israel later on Sunday, following his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Israel is expected to present findings from the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians from Rafah to argue that a full-scale operation against the Hamas battalions there would not significantly harm the population.
Israel has stated that Rafah, where four of Hamas’s remaining six battalions are deployed, is a major stronghold for the terror group. It also believes that many of the remaining 124 hostages taken during the Hamas-led October 7 attack are being held in Rafah.
IDF Uncovers 700 Tunnel Shafts in Rafah, Including 50 That Cross into Egypt
Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam revealed the extent of the tunnel network in Rafah while speaking at the International Court of Justice.
“Rafah, in particular, is a focal point for ongoing terrorist activity. It is a stronghold for Hamas’ operators with several battalions belonging to the Rafah brigades entrenched in the area,” Noam said. “Also present in Rafah is an intricate underground tunnel infrastructure that runs underneath the city and provides ample space for operators, command and control rooms, and military equipment.”
“Nearly 700 tunnel shafts have been identified in Rafah, from which approximately 50 tunnels cross into Egypt,” Noam continued. “These tunnels are used by Hamas to supply itself with weapons and ammunition. They could potentially be used to smuggle out of Gaza hostages or Hamas senior operators.”
Nearly 700 tunnel shafts have been identified in Rafah, with ~50 tunnels crossing into Egypt, revealed @DrGiladNoam at today's sham @CIJ_ICJ hearing.
Those tunnels are used to smuggle weapons to Hamas and can be used to smuggle senior terrorists and/or hostages out of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/UAgvyTCoJk
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) May 17, 2024
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