Claims To Reach Mission In Khan Younis, Israeli Defense Minister Calls Next Attack On Rafah

JAKARTA - The Israeli military will direct its military campaign to Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip, after completing its mission in Khan Younis, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

Rafah's population, which is on the Egyptian border, has doubled rapidly as Gazans fled there after Israeli bombings in northern cities, according to the United Nations.

"We achieved our mission at Khan Younis, and we will also achieve Rafah and eliminate the terror elements that threaten us," Defense Minister Gallant said.

"This war requires national resilience and determination and we must survive until we complete our mission," he said, according to a statement from the ministry.

Citing Reuters, more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents took refuge in the Rafah area, most of whom were cold and starving in emergency tents and public buildings.

Defense Minister Gallant said so far Israeli forces had killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters and injured 10,000 others.

Two weeks ago, Israel Defense Forces estimated it had killed about 9,000 Hamas fighters since the start of the war in Gaza.

Separately, the United Nations said on Thursday, more than 1.4 million Gazans had been "crowded" in the governorship of Rafah.