Gaza War: Israeli Forces Advance Into Central Rafah, US Prez Biden Asserts 'Red Lines' Of Invasion Unbreached

Despite this escalation, U.S. President Joe Biden said that Israel has not breached the "red lines" of a full-fledged invasion, which he had cautioned against.

New Delhi: The Israeli military on Friday confirmed its ongoing operations in central Rafah as part of its expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city. The ground assault into Rafah commenced on May 6, prompting a significant displacement of approximately 1 million Palestinians from the area and disrupting U.N. humanitarian operations in the region.

Despite this escalation, U.S. President Joe Biden said that Israel has not breached the "red lines" of a full-fledged invasion, which he had cautioned against, reported news agency AP.

The Israeli military's Friday statement indicates that its forces have extended their operations across various parts of Rafah. Initially, the focus of the assault was on Rafah's eastern districts and areas near the border with Egypt.

Israeli troops swiftly seized control of the Rafah crossing into Egypt at the onset of the offensive and have since asserted authority over the Philadelphi Corridor, a crucial road along the Gaza-Egypt border.

More recently, Israeli forces have advanced into Rafah's western district of Tel al-Sultan, leading to intense clashes with Hamas fighters as reported by eyewitnesses.

Israel's military announced that its troops operating in central Rafah had uncovered Hamas rocket launchers and tunnels, in addition to dismantling a weapons storage facility belonging to the group. While the specific location within central Rafah was not specified in the statement, previous reports and witness accounts have indicated raids in areas such as the Shaboura refugee camp and other sites near the city center.

300,000 Individuals Remain In Rafah, UN Official Says

Israel has emphasised the significance of its offensive in Rafah as part of its broader campaign to dismantle Hamas following the group's attack on southern Israel on October 7th.

The Palestinians who fled Rafah have dispersed throughout southern and central Gaza, with many residing in makeshift tent camps under dire conditions.

It is estimated that up to 300,000 individuals have remained in the area, with some still situated in the central urban sectors of the city, as indicated by a U.N. official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to unauthorised press engagement, AP reported.

Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, noted that the majority of displaced individuals have sought refuge in rural areas west of the city, near the coast. However, this area has been subjected to lethal Israeli airstrikes and shelling in the past week.