Middle East conflict live updates: Two Israeli delegations visit U.S. as Harris warns against Rafah attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted again on Sunday that a military operation in Rafah is needed to eliminate Hamas. “We will enter Rafah and achieve total victory,” he said, addressing the nation on the Jewish holiday of Purim.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said Sunday that Israeli forces were “besieging” two more hospitals in Gaza and that a staff member was killed amid heavy gunfire. Israel’s military said it began an operation in the Khan Younis area based on intelligence that civilian infrastructure was being used by militants, calling on Hamas to “cease using hospitals” as shields. The Washington Post could not independently verify the claims.

Separately, Israel said its forces have apprehended 480 suspects in a week-long raid at Gaza’s main al-Shifa hospital, and located weapons and stockpiles of cash in the health facility. Global health officials have expressed alarm over the raids, which come as basic health services have only recently been restored there after a November assault.

At least 32,226 people have been killed and 74,518 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and says 252 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.