On Tuesday, Israeli tanks advanced to the center of Rafah for the first time, marking three weeks since the onset of a ground operation in the southern Gaza city, which has ignited global condemnation. According to witnesses, the tanks were seen near Al-Awda mosque, a prominent landmark in Rafah. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that its forces were actively operating in the Rafah area but did not comment on the reported move into the city center.
Around a million people have fled the Israeli operation in Rafah, with those who remain sheltering in shattered camps facing dire conditions and relentless attacks, according to U.N. relief agencies. A video released on Tuesday showed families on the move, carrying belongings through shattered streets and weary children trailing behind them. “The bombardment, the smoke, the dust—this is hell on earth,” one woman was heard saying as she walked through a destroyed street.
The escalation comes amid intense international pressure for Israel to reverse course and end the assault. Leaders around the world have expressed horror over the airstrikes that sparked a massive blaze in a tent camp, killing 45 Palestinians, including children and women, in a designated safe zone. Spain, Ireland, and Norway will officially recognize Palestine as a state on Tuesday, further raising diplomatic pressure on Israel to stop its assault.
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On Monday, a U.S. destroyer was sent to patrol the waters off of Yemen in response to missile and drone strikes from Houthi-controlled territory, though it reportedly returned to its base after the mission. The move is part of an ongoing effort by the United States to increase pressure on the Houthis, whose recent offensive against Western-allied Saudi Arabia has raised concerns about a wider conflict with Israel and the region.
Aid deliveries via the Rafah crossing resumed on 2 December after a brief hiatus, though a resumption of fighting in Gaza will sustain elevated disruption risks. The resumption of the conflict will also likely further exacerbate significant food, water, and energy insecurity throughout Gaza, with restrictions on aid flows almost certain to undermine humanitarian organizations’ capacity to provide essential services.
Rocket fire from Gaza-based militants will continue, with a realistic chance of an uptick in the run-up to the Hannukah holiday period (7 December – 13 December) that will heighten psychological pressure on Israel. Raising regional tensions with Israel will also sustain heightened security risks for diplomatic missions, Israel-linked businesses, and Jewish communities in Gulf countries.
