A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.
Israeli troops rolled into Rafah Tuesday in what authorities said was a limited operation to eliminate the Hamas terror infrastructure in the eastern section of the city on the southern Gaza Strip.
Before the operation, Israel Defense Forces officials encouraged residents to temporarily evacuate to Al-Mawasi, a town about six miles from where an expanded humanitarian area has been set up.
“The IDF has facilitated the expansion of field hospitals, tents, and an increase in water, food, and medical supplies,” IDF officials said on their Telegram social messaging page. “International organizations working in the area were also encouraged to temporarily evacuate prior to the beginning of the cooperation.”
The Rafah Crossing in eastern Rafah was being used for terrorist purposes, officials said. On Sunday, a mortar barrage from that area killed four Israeli soldiers and injured several others, IDF officials said.
“IDF ground troops and [Israeli Air Force] fighter jets struck and eliminated Hamas terror targets in the Rafah area, including military structures, underground infrastructure, and additional terrorist infrastructure from which Hamas operated in the Rafah area,” Israeli officials said.
SEE ALSO: For warriors, Israel-Hamas clash provides case study for 21st-century urban battles
The operation began soon after Hamas signaled that it had accepted a proposal for a cease-fire that Israel says falls short of what they would be willing to accept. It does not seem to be the full-scale invasion that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would be necessary to eradicate Hamas.
U.S. officials have said they were opposed to such an operation unless specific measures were taken to safeguard the civilians in Rafah.
The United Nations on Monday said an Israeli offensive into Rafah would mean untold civilian suffering and deaths. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East said it would not evacuate despite the Israeli military operation.
“The consequences would be devastating for 1.4 million people [but] the agency will maintain a presence in Rafah as long as possible and will continue providing lifesaving aid to people,” the U.N. posted on X.