Despite warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe, Israel is preparing to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah in order to launch offensives against the Hamas terror group in the southern Gaza Strip city, according to Reuters, citing a senior Israeli defence official.

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official spokesperson, Israel is “moving ahead” with a ground operation. However, it did not provide a timeline.

The Israel Defence Forces also stated that it was ready to deploy two reserve brigades for missions in the Gaza Strip, following the military’s decision to proceed with plans for an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to remove the Hamas terror group from its last major stronghold in the enclave, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel Defence Forces: ‘Prepared For Mission In Gaza Strip’

The IDF stated that the two reserve brigades have “prepared in recent weeks for their mission in the Gaza Strip.”

Meanwhile, various Israeli reports say that top Israeli security officials visited Egypt on Wednesday to organise the Rafah offensive.

The 679th “Yiftah” Armoured Brigade and the 2nd “Carmeli” Infantry Brigade, which operate on the northern border, would be in charge of central Gaza areas that have remained under Israeli military control since troops were largely pulled back from other areas of the Strip earlier this month, according to an Army Radio report.

According to the defence official, Israel’s Defense Ministry purchased 40,000 tents, each with a capacity for 10 to 12 people, to accommodate Palestinians who were transferred from Rafah in advance of an invasion.