Israel to expand Gaza humanitarian zone for possible Rafah attack

Israel was preparing to expand a "humanitarian zone" in the Gaza Strip in preparation for a possible attack on the border city of Rafah, reported Xinhua, quoting Hebrew Public Radio on Monday.

The radio said that the new humanitarian zone will extend from the southern town of Al-Mawasi along the coastal strip to the outskirts of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip and will be able to accommodate about one million displaced people.

According to the report, five field hospitals have been established in the area, supplementing the existing hospitals in operation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to intensify military and political pressure on Hamas in the coming days.

Netanyahu repeatedly threatened to launch an attack on Rafah, as it is the last "stronghold" of Hamas.

Rafah has become the last refuge for more than 1.4 million Palestinians following their displacement from the northern and central Gaza Strip due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.