The city is the last remaining stronghold of Hamas, an Islamist terror group whose destructive aims extend far beyond Israel
Suddenly, everyone’s talking about Rafah. It’s a small Gazan city near the border with Egypt. It’s also the entry point for most weapons that are smuggled into the Gaza Strip and supply Hamas and other terror groups.
Egypt has fortified the border in recent months with a concrete wall stretching deep into the ground and topped with razor wire. Dozens of tanks and armoured personnel carriers were moved in last week. The border with the Strip is totally sealed.
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Egypt is readying for a much-anticipated Israeli military operation in Rafah that would complete the intensive stage of this war. Four Hamas battalions remain entrenched in the southern stronghold, likely along with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement along with the leaders of Australia and New Zealand, calling on Israel to refrain from entering Rafah and reiterating a litany of wishes, including that Hamas lay down its arms and release all the hostages immediately.
It goes on to misstate the substance of the recent preliminary order of the International Court of Justice (hearing an application brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide).
The court did not state that Israel “must ensure the delivery of basic services and essential humanitarian assistance and must protect civilians.” The court stated that, “The State of Israel shall take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”
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