Israel-Hamas war: Rafah ground assault looms over Palestinians who ‘have no idea where to go’

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What we know

• Trapped in and around Rafah, more than 1 million Palestinians are bracing themselves as Israel plans to launch a ground assault against Hamas fighters in Gaza’s southernmost city. Aid agencies have warned that large numbers of civilians could die in the offensive. “People have no idea where to go,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UNRWA agency, said yesterday.
• His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the military had been ordered to develop a plan “for evacuating the population and destroying” four Hamas battalions it said were deployed in Rafah. The U.S. said it would not back an assault that did not protect civilians, and had briefed Israel on a new national security memorandum reminding countries receiving American arms to adhere to international law.
• Six-year-old Hind Rajab has been found dead, 12 days after she made a desperate plea for help in a call with an emergency dispatcher from the car where she was trapped alongside some of her relatives, all of whom died, the Palestine Red Crescent told NBC News today. Two first responders who set out to rescue the little girl were also found dead in their ambulance, the PRCS said.
• More than 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 67,400 have been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead.
• Israeli military officials said at least 224 soldiers have been killed during the ground invasion of Gaza.
• NBC News’ Raf Sanchez, Matt Bradley and Chantal Da Silva are reporting from the region.