As Israel has announced an attack on the southernmost city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, it has been confirmed that a large-scale tent village is being established near Rafah.
On the 23rd (local time), the Associated Press reported that recent satellite images taken by the U.S. commercial satellite company Planet Labs PBC confirmed the establishment of a large-scale tent village near Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza Strip.
Large tent village near Khan Yunis, the largest city in southern Gaza Strip [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
The AP reported that tents began to appear since the 16th and the scale has been growing daily.
Rafah is the last stronghold of the Palestinian armed faction Hamas. Despite opposition from the United States and the international community, Israel has announced an attack on Rafah. Israel insists that a ground operation is inevitable to eliminate the remaining Hamas leadership in Rafah and to rescue Israeli hostages.
On the previous day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized in his Passover speech, "We will strike Hamas painfully. It will happen soon," and added, "Within days, we will pressure Hamas militarily and politically."
Israel has announced plans to evacuate about 140 refugees from Rafah ahead of the attack. If the large-scale tent village was established for the purpose of evacuating Rafah refugees, it can be interpreted as a sign that Israel's attack on Rafah is imminent.
Some foreign media believe that with the first armed clash between Iran and Israel, triggered by an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, coming to an end, Israel is likely to start a ground war in Rafah soon.
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