JERUSALEM 

The Israeli army sent an additional brigade to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip amid a military offensive in the city, according to local media on Thursday.

The Commando Brigade joined the 162nd Division, which is fighting in eastern Rafah, The Times of Israel newspaper reported.

According to the daily, the move came amid expectations that the army would widen its military offensive in the Palestinian city.

There was no confirmation of the report yet by the Israeli army.

The Israeli army launched a ground offensive on May 6 in Rafah, home to around 1.5 million displaced Palestinians, with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimating that around 600,000 people have fled the city since the start of the Israeli attack.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh warned on Wednesday that the Israeli onslaught on Rafah threatens to undermine negotiations for a Gaza cease-fire and hostage swap deal with Israel.

Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which killed 1,200 people.

More than 35,230 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and over 79,140 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar