Israel says it will expand operations in Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge

Rafah, a small city in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt, was one of the last places of refuge during Israel’s war in Gaza, quintupling in population as displaced people from the northern parts of the Strip sought safety.The city is now a target, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that his forces “are preparing to enter Rafah,” raising concerns about the fate of displaced civilians trapped in the roughly 25-square-mile area with nowhere to go. Israel’s plans have raised tensions with its biggest ally, the United States, which remains opposed to a major…