Preparing for the operation in Rafah: the Nahal brigade went out to refresh, reports of a city of tents in Khan Yunis

Israel is preparing for an attack in Rafah: the IDF spokesman informed today (Thursday) that the Nahal Brigade, which remained the longest in the Gaza Strip, is leaving the Netzer corridor in the center of the Gaza Strip, and in its place the two reserve brigades 2 and 679, under the command of Division 99, are entering the area. The speaker, the fighters are going out to freshen up and increase their fitness ahead of the planned operation in Rafah. As part of the preparations for the operation in Rafah, according to IDF data – so far about 100-150 thousand Gazan citizens have already evacuated from the area – north of the Moatzi and Khan Yunis area. In other words, there are about 1.2 million Palestinians left in Rafah who will have to be evacuated in the scenario of a future operation.

According to reports in the AP news agency, Israel carries out attacks in Rafah on an almost daily basis. 5 Palestinians were killed in an air force attack today in the city.

Satellite images analyzed by AP show a new tent complex erected near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, which raised the suspicion of a combat evacuation of the Rafah population to the complex. A Palestinian health official told the news agency that the camp is intended to house displaced persons currently staying in a hospital shelter and that there is no connection to an expected military operation, but a report on Channel 12 reveals that tent gates are expected to be part of the preparations for the operation.

The channel also reported that the entrance to Rafah will be divided into several stages: initially, the continuity of the introduction of humanitarian aid to the Strip will be guaranteed, then the essential infrastructure will be restored in Khan Yunis and the central camps, to which the population will be evacuated from Rafah. The water pipes and communication lines will be repaired, the hospitals will be rebuilt and field hospitals will be operated. According to the report, in the last phase shelters will be established for the evacuated population, mainly in tent camps and in tents that will be provided to the residents. The evacuation plan is expected to last 3-4 weeks, according to the report.