IDF Launches Rafah Ground Operation Despite International Warnings

Israeli forces launch a ground operation in Rafah, at the southernmost tip of Gaza, where over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians had sheltered. The operation begins with the seizure of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, cutting off a major entry point for humanitarian aid. The US, EU, and other allies had explicitly warned against a major Rafah operation without civilian protection plans.