Lebanon Facing Dangerous Choices

Attention is focused on the negotiations between Hamas and Israel, especially after Hamas announced its agreement to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the ambiguous Israeli stance continues to hinder efforts, particularly after Tel Aviv confirmed last night the continuation of the Rafah operation, which threatens a real humanitarian disaster if the aggression expands. Israel's decision to relocate residents from the eastern and northern neighborhoods of Rafah to its southern areas indicates the implementation of a plan to invade Rafah and expel the Palestinians. Monitoring sources indicated through "Al-Anbaa" electronic site that European warnings, especially from France, Egypt, and Jordan, strengthen the belief in Israel's hidden intentions against a city that houses over a million people, most of whom have fled there from Gaza. In light of these dangerous developments, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leaders called on the entire world to intervene to stop the impending massacre. The sources noted that the world is experiencing critical moments following the Israeli war government's decision to expel residents from the eastern neighborhoods of the city to its south, facilitating their final removal from their land, which means a new catastrophe no less severe than the catastrophe of 1948. Former MP Chamel Roukoz pointed out in an interview with "Al-Anbaa" electronic site that preparations for the attack on Rafah are evident. He questioned whether it would be a full or partial attack, limited only to areas from which the population has been expelled to the coastal region of Rafah, and it remains unclear whether preparations are underway for a complete operation or a limited one to save face after Netanyahu's failure to release prisoners and eliminate Hamas. Roukoz considered that the Rafah situation cannot be viewed merely as an attack on a city, noting the Arab, regional, international, and American atmosphere rejecting the assault on Rafah, asking: "What can Rafah offer Netanyahu more than what the Gaza war has provided? He destroyed Gaza and achieved none of his objectives." Roukoz highlighted that the Palestinian victory is beginning to manifest today in European and American universities, adding, "There is significant Western public opinion influenced by this, especially as these countries approach presidential elections, which could affect their outcomes, as American public opinion has been opposed from the outset to what is happening in Gaza." Roukoz anticipated that an invasion of Rafah would have a significant impact on the situation in southern Lebanon and that the war could escalate to worse conditions, with no one able to predict what might happen. In light of this scenario, it is essential for Lebanon to positively engage with the French proposal and consider it a real opportunity to prevent slipping into more dangerous options, according to "Al-Anbaa" electronic site.