U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stressed the need to protect the noncombatants in Rafah.
The Israel Defense Forces has begun isolating Rafah in southern Gaza and has started taking steps to evacuate the city’s civilian population, Channel 12 reported on Wednesday.
The moves come despite intensifying international opposition to a ground operation in the last Hamas stronghold, which Jerusalem says is necessary to defeat the terrorist organization.
The final four Hamas battalions, comprising some 3,000 terrorists, are holed up in the city, according to Israel.
There are also well over a million Gazans sheltering in Rafah, causing concern regarding potential harm to noncombatants.
As part of the preparations for the operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the purchase from China of 40,000 tents for Rafah evacuees, which will be moved to the Gaza Strip from Israel, according to the report.
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