Thousands of soldiers are ready; Washington spoke urgently: It will be a huge mistake

However, senior US officials are not sure if a decision has been made, two US administration officials told CNN.

The White House believes an Israeli ground offensive at Rafah would be a big mistake and is working urgently to establish a ceasefire, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday.

• Disaster threatening: The attacks have been launched
• United Nations: 360,000 people fled
• "Israel will achieve its goals in the war in Gaza, even though it knows it will pay for it"

A CNN report states that Joseph Biden administration is unsure whether Israel has made a decision to attack Rafah, after the U.S. President warned last week that such a move would prompt the US to stop further arms shipments to it.

Israel has ordered the evacuation of residents from some parts of the city, which the Israeli army labels as the last major stronghold of Hamas in Gaza.

It is estimated that more than 350,000 people left Rafa, but hundreds of thousands remained in that city.