Rafah's fierce battle is almost over, according to Netanyahu

The "intense phase" of the combat in Rafah, southern Gaza, is almost done, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but this does not indicate that the conflict is ending.

He said that the conflict would go on until Hamas was totally ousted from power.

The Israeli military will soon be able to send soldiers to the Lebanon border, he said, where gunfire exchanges with Hezbollah have become more intense.

Again, Mr. Netanyahu rejected the notion that Gaza should be governed by the Palestinian Authority, which is situated in the West Bank, rather than Hamas.

"Ultimately, there are two things that must be done: first, the Israel Defense Forces must continue their military demilitarization, and second, a civil administration must be established. With the help and guidance of some of the region's nations, I believe that this is the best course of action," he stated in an interview with Israeli television.

"Let me tell you what I'm not ready to do: I'm not ready to give it to the Palestinian Authority or to create a Palestinian state there. Not at all ready to do that.

The head of emergency services for the Hamas-run health ministry is alleged to have died as a result of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, according to residents of Rafah.

Another target was an aid distribution center; according to the IDF, Hamas was using it.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is beginning his tour to Washington with the goal of talking about the situation in Gaza and the rising hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

In reaction to the Palestinian armed group's unprecedented onslaught on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and the kidnapping of 251 others, the Israeli military began a campaign to destroy Hamas.

Since then, the health ministry in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, has reported over 37,551 deaths in the region. Its statistics do not distinguish between fighters and civilians; but, by the end of April, it was said to have identified 14,680 women, children, and senior citizens among the dead.