"Israeli Threatens Ground Assault in Rafah if Hostages Not Released"

The White House cautioned against an Israeli military operation in Gaza's Rafah, emphasizing the need to protect Palestinian refugees residing there. While expressing support for Israel's efforts to combat Hamas, the US stressed the importance of safeguarding civilian lives and urged Israel to present a credible plan for protecting refugees in order to secure US support. The warning comes amid international condemnation and follows the IDF's rescue of hostages from Rafah, where Hamas maintains military capabilities.