Discussions about a possible military offensive on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, have been going on in Israel since early February. According to Israeli media reports from late April, troops have now finished their preparations for the ground offensive. All that remains is for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give the word.

Netanyahu recently announced the operation could begin "in the coming days" and that army officials estimated about six weeks of "continuous fighting" would be necessary.

However, security experts are not certain the offensive is about to start. Neighboring Egypt is currently trying to negotiate a new hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, in the hope of seeing off, or at least delaying, a Rafah offensive.

More than 80% of the Gaza Strip's total population of 2.3 million is displaced. The majority of housing and infrastructure has also been destroyed by the Israeli miitary campaign. With Israeli forces in control of northern Gaza, up to 1.4 million people are seeking refuge........

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