Israel's Rafah Invasion Threat: Why US, Egypt Are Sounding The Alarm

Israel on Wednesday said it was "moving ahead" with its planned operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah to target Hamas, drawing a stern warning from neighbour Egypt. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will press ahead with the assault on Rafah, the last major population centre in Gaza that Israeli ground troops have yet to enter. Israel's closest ally, the US, has called on it to set aside plans for an assault on Rafah and says that it can combat Hamas fighters there by other means. Israel also drew a warning from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, who said that any military operations in Rafah would have "catastrophic consequences" on the humanitarian situation in the sector and on regional peace and security.