US provides key intelligence on Hamas in attempt to stop Rafah invasion

David Cameron, the foreign secretary, said on Sunday that Israel should not carry out an offensive in Rafah without a “clear plan” to protect the population.

He told Sky News: “For there to be a major offensive in Rafah, there would have to be an absolutely clear plan on how you save lives, how you keep people away, how you ensure that they are fed, how you ensure that they are fed. make sure they have medicine, shelter and everything.

He added: “We have not seen any such plan…so we do not support an offensive in this manner.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made Rafah a focal point by reiterating his war goals to bring back the remaining 132 hostages held by Hamas and eliminate the terrorist group in its entirety. As Hamas’ last military stronghold, Rafah remains a key strategic target.

Several commanders and senior figures in Hamas have so far been eliminated, but Sinwar and his closest associates, including Mohammed Deif, head of the group’s military wing, and Sinwar’s brother Mohammed, have remained elusive. They are believed to be using Israeli hostages as human shields.

According to the Times of Israel, Sinwar is no longer in Rafah, having fled to the tunnels around Khan Younis before the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) closed in on the area and took control of the Rafah crossing last week. .

Despite enduring more than seven months of intense fighting, sparked by its October 7 invasion, Hamas continued to bombard Israel with rockets over the weekend.