Israel indicates March deadline for Gaza ground offensive in Rafah
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has warned that unless Hamas frees all hostages held in Gaza by 10 March an offensive will be launched in Rafah.
It is the first time Israel has said when its troops might enter Gaza's overcrowded southern city.
Global opposition is growing to such an attack in Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
Earlier, the UN public health agency said a key Gaza hospital had ceased to function following an Israeli raid.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had not been allowed to enter Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, north of Rafah, to assess the situation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) entered the complex on Thursday, saying intelligence indicated hostages taken by Hamas were being held there.
The IDF has described its operation in Nasser as "precise and limited", accusing Hamas of "cynically using hospitals for terror".
Speaking on Sunday, Mr Gantz, a former defence minister, said: "The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know - if by Ramadan our hostages are not home, the fighting will continue everywhere, to include the Rafah area".
Ramadan - the Islamic holy month of fasting - this year begins on 10 March.
Mr Gantz added that Israel would act in "a co-ordinated manner, facilitating the evacuation of civilians in dialogue with our American and Egyptian partners to minimise civilian casualties".
The Israeli war cabinet consists of the country's top security officials. It was formed several days after Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October, killing at least 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages. Hamas is still holding about 130 hostages in Gaza, Israel believes.
Mr Gantz's reference to Egypt may serve to heighten speculation that Israel expects some Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and seek shelter on the Egyptian side of the border, where the authorities appear to be building a large walled enclosure for this purpose, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams.
But Israeli officials have yet to give any details of an evacuation plan, he adds.
With exactly three weeks to go before the start of Ramadan, reports from Rafah say that a few people are leaving, heading west towards the coast, but that most are still waiting, unsure what to do.
Despite international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to launch a ground assault on Rafah to eliminate Hamas gunmen there.
Egypt and some other Arab countries have repeatedly warned that an Israeli offensive there would risk pushing many Palestinians into Egypt - which they consider unacceptable. Saudi Arabia has vowed "very serious repercussions" if Rafah is stormed.
Internationally there have been many warnings to Israel not to launch an offensive in Gaza's southernmost city, where Palestinians are living in dire conditions. The US - a key Israeli ally - has said that launching an operation into the city without proper planning would be a "disaster".
Israel's offensive against Hamas since 7 October has reduced much of the Gaza Strip to ruins.
Source: BBC
Trending News
Galamsey: Five Burkina Faso nationals caged 20 years each for mining
09:31'It's disrespectful!' – Asogli State tackles gov't's 'no-consultation' move to rename Ho Tech. Uni. after Ephraim Amu
13:23Lands Minister gives FGR deadline to revamp its mining operations; assures workers of commitment to their welfare
17:22Lagos officials praise Jospong Group’s eco-friendly waste management module, eyes similar module
12:57Be truthful on dumsor: Omane Boamah to Napo
13:31NDC postpones Opoku-Agyemang entry tour to May
15:48'It's no crime' – Abu Sakara defends Alan's NPP exit
12:52You'll pay ₵125 to replace missing Ghana card from May 1
10:28All my businesses’ve collapsed under Akufo-Addo: NDC Central regional chair
06:57Ashanti ECG workers go red, ban managers from security meetings over GM's arrest
12:09