Israel Plans Ground Attack on Rafah, , Gaza's Final Refuge for the Displaced.br Al Jazeera reports that Israel plans to expand its ground br assault into Rafah where most Palestinians have been br forced to seek shelter amid heavy bombardment of Gaza.br Al Jazeera reports that Israel plans to expand its ground br assault into Rafah where most Palestinians have been br forced to seek shelter amid heavy bombardment of Gaza.br News of the imminent attack on Rafah has reportedly br raised concerns from global aid organizations as br Israel continues to stem the flow of aid into the region. .br News of the imminent attack on Rafah has reportedly br raised concerns from global aid organizations as br Israel continues to stem the flow of aid into the region. .br The Khan Younis Brigade of br the Hamas organization is disbanded, br we will complete the mission there br and continue to Rafah. We will continue br until the end, there is no other way, Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister, via X.br The Khan Younis Brigade of br the Hamas organization is disbanded, br we will complete the mission there br and continue to Rafah. We will continue br until the end, there is no other way, Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister, via X.br Approximately 1.9 million of Gaza's br 2.3 million people are sheltering in Rafah. .br Al Jazeera reports that the displaced population br lacks protection or basic infrastructure, br including access to toilets and clean water. .br Since the war began on October 7, br Gaza's Ministry of Health has reported over br 27,000 casualties, mostly women and children. .br I want to emphasize our deep br concern about the escalation of br hostilities in Khan Younis, which has br resulted in an increase in the number br of internally displaced people seeking br refuge in Rafah in recent days, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office br for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs br (OCHA), via Al Jazeera.br I want to emphasize our deep br concern about the escalation of br hostilities in Khan Younis, which has br resulted in an increase in the number br of internally displaced people seeking br refuge in Rafah in recent days, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office br for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs br (OCHA), via Al Jazeera.br Thousands of Palestinians have continued br to flee to the south, which is already hosting br over half the population of some 2.3 million br people. … Rafah is a pressure cooker of br despair, and we fear for what comes next, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office br for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs br (OCHA), via Al Jazeera.br Talks to end the war, even temporarily, between br Israel and Hamas are being mediated by br the United States, Qatar and Egypt. .