Two new tent encampments have been identified by satellite imaging in southern Gaza as reports suggest Israel’s military is gearing up for an offensive in the city of Rafah.

Rafah, by the border with Egypt, is the only city in Gaza that the Israeli military has not yet entered; It is also noted that over a million people has been sheltering there for months.

The US has stated that there will be a plan to protect them in the likely event of any offensive attack. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, however insisted that entering Rafah was necessary to defeat Hamas and search for the hostages.

The current war began when Israeli communities near Gaza were attacked by Hamas, killing about 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking about 250 hostages. The subsequent aerial bombardment and ground operations by Israeli forces in Gaza has killed 34,183 people, who were mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had over a period of 6months of war has entered and taken control of all of northern Gaza including Gaza city and most of central and southern Gaza including Khan Younis, the main southern city.

They have since withdrawn from almost all of those areas with the exception of troops stationed at the road that separates northern and southern Gaza. Despite this, Israeli bombardment has continued across Gaza, which includes Rafah where about twenty (20)people, mostly children, were killed on Saturday.

Displaced Palestinians in Rafah had attempted to return to northern Gaza but were forced back by the Israeli military; witnesses have said that they had opened fire on crowds heading along the main coastal road, which killed five people.

A key demand made by Hamas, in the now stalled ceasefire talks, was for the displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza.

However, renewed fighting in northern Gaza with the IDF shelling areas near the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, as well as the Jabalia refugee camp and the Gaza city suburb of Zeitoun, has many speculating how it can be done.