GAZA CITY, Palestine

Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail Abu Omar was injured on Tuesday in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, according to witnesses.

“Abu Omar sustained serious injuries in his leg and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention,” an eyewitness told Anadolu.

The Israeli army has said it plans to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million residents seeking refuge from war, to defeat what Tel Aviv calls the remaining "Hamas battalions."

World leaders and foreign policy analysts have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if an offensive is launched, especially as Rafah is the last resort for many Palestinian refugees, who have nowhere else to go.

Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah as Israel pounded the rest of the enclave since Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed more than 28,473 victims and caused mass destruction and shortages of all necessities.