On Sunday evening, Israel bombed tents in northern Rafah, the Gaza Strip's southernmost city, killing at least 40 people and injuring others, according to Palestinian media.

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently held a phone call with Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, reinforcing America’s stance against Israel's proposed major military operation in Rafah city of Gaza. Blinken emphasised the urgent need to protect civilians during the conflict.

This is the first time since October 7 last year that the United States has stopped a weapons consignment bound for the Israeli military.

The Israeli Army, on Monday, ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Rafah, Southern Gaza, to evacuate from the camps, indicating that a long-awaited ground assault was on the way. 

In a meeting with families of hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday his intention to launch a ground assault on Rafah, stating it would happen "with or without" a deal with Hamas.

Netanyahu said, "Israel will complete the elimination of Hamas' brigades, including in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, and nothing will prevent this." He emphasized, "There is no force in the world that will stop us. There are many forces that are trying to do so, but it will not help, since this enemy, after what it did, will never do it again."

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a critical conversation, marking a potential shift in strategy regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.