Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army Herzi Halevi has approved plans to continue the war in Gaza , the military announced this evening, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Halevi "authorized further action," said army spokesman Daniel Hagari.
The Israeli TV channel "Can" reported that part of the plans included a military operation in the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. Evidently, an evacuation of the civilian population can be expected soon.
Israel's allies have urgently warned against an offensive in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Palestinians are concentrated. However, Israel believes that the operation in Rafah is necessary to destroy the remaining battalions of the Palestinian Islamist organization "Hamas" or otherwise its resumption may be expected.
On Sunday, the Israeli army spokesman addressed the hostages held in Gaza by "Hamas" directly. "We will keep fighting until you come home," he said. The hostages' relatives are in an unbearable situation and everything will be done to free their relatives, he added.