© Hunter D. Cone for Savannah Morning News / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Rafah) — Israel continues to expand its military operations into southern Gaza. The Israeli military is ordering new evacuations of civilians in Rafah ahead of an expected full-scale ground invasion there. President Biden has repeatedly asked Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to steer clear of Rafah, but Netanyahu says Israel needs to go in there to take out terrorists in hiding.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says the U.S. should not be directing Israel on how to carry out its war against Hamas. McConnell disagrees with President Biden plan, that would halt some weapon transfers to Israel if it launched a full-scale invasion into Rafah. At least one-million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah. McConnell says the U.S. should not tell Israel how to conduct a war on it’s borders.
Residents in Rafah have reported explosions, gunfire and heavy fighting between Israeli forces and militants with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas ended with no agreement on Thursday.
