02:23Hundreds of Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles were seen stationed near Kerem Shalom and Khan Younis on Saturday, ahead of a planned Israeli offensive in southern Gaza's city of Rafah.
This comes after an Israeli government spokesperson announced on Wednesday that the state was 'moving ahead' in its 'operation to target Hamas in Rafah.'
According to Israeli media, the IDF withdrew two reserve brigades from the northern border, the 679th “Yiftah” Armoured Brigade and the 2nd “Carmeli” Infantry Brigade, in preparation for the operation.
On Wednesday, Israeli military officials also announced plans to evacuate civilians in the area ahead of the attack, stating they had procured 40,000 tents for evacuees.
Egyptian authorities urged Israel against a Rafah offensive, stating the operation would lead to 'widespread destruction.'
Hamas officials said on Saturday that they are reviewing a new ceasefire proposal from Israel, following the conclusion of an Egyptian delegation's visit to Tel Aviv on Friday for ongoing truce negotiations.
Over 1.5 million people live in the city of Rafah, and most of them are displaced, according to the UN. The United States and several other countries expressed concern about the possibility of a ground attack on Rafah, while NGOs said it would be impossible to evacuate residents from Rafah.
Fighting between Israel and Hamas has entered the seventh month in Gaza after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that 34,183 people had been killed and 77,084 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
IDF deploy tank brigades ahead of planned Rafah offensive as Israel proposes new ceasefire agreement
Hundreds of Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles were seen stationed near Kerem Shalom and Khan Younis on Saturday, ahead of a planned Israeli offensive in southern Gaza's city of Rafah.
This comes after an Israeli government spokesperson announced on Wednesday that the state was 'moving ahead' in its 'operation to target Hamas in Rafah.'
According to Israeli media, the IDF withdrew two reserve brigades from the northern border, the 679th “Yiftah” Armoured Brigade and the 2nd “Carmeli” Infantry Brigade, in preparation for the operation.
On Wednesday, Israeli military officials also announced plans to evacuate civilians in the area ahead of the attack, stating they had procured 40,000 tents for evacuees.
Egyptian authorities urged Israel against a Rafah offensive, stating the operation would lead to 'widespread destruction.'
Hamas officials said on Saturday that they are reviewing a new ceasefire proposal from Israel, following the conclusion of an Egyptian delegation's visit to Tel Aviv on Friday for ongoing truce negotiations.
Over 1.5 million people live in the city of Rafah, and most of them are displaced, according to the UN. The United States and several other countries expressed concern about the possibility of a ground attack on Rafah, while NGOs said it would be impossible to evacuate residents from Rafah.
Fighting between Israel and Hamas has entered the seventh month in Gaza after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that 34,183 people had been killed and 77,084 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
Hundreds of Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles were seen stationed near Kerem Shalom and Khan Younis on Saturday, ahead of a planned Israeli offensive in southern Gaza's city of Rafah.
This comes after an Israeli government spokesperson announced on Wednesday that the state was 'moving ahead' in its 'operation to target Hamas in Rafah.'
According to Israeli media, the IDF withdrew two reserve brigades from the northern border, the 679th “Yiftah” Armoured Brigade and the 2nd “Carmeli” Infantry Brigade, in preparation for the operation.
On Wednesday, Israeli military officials also announced plans to evacuate civilians in the area ahead of the attack, stating they had procured 40,000 tents for evacuees.
Egyptian authorities urged Israel against a Rafah offensive, stating the operation would lead to 'widespread destruction.'
Hamas officials said on Saturday that they are reviewing a new ceasefire proposal from Israel, following the conclusion of an Egyptian delegation's visit to Tel Aviv on Friday for ongoing truce negotiations.
Over 1.5 million people live in the city of Rafah, and most of them are displaced, according to the UN. The United States and several other countries expressed concern about the possibility of a ground attack on Rafah, while NGOs said it would be impossible to evacuate residents from Rafah.
Fighting between Israel and Hamas has entered the seventh month in Gaza after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials reported that 34,183 people had been killed and 77,084 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.