Why is Israel planning a Rafah offensive and what would it mean?

Palestinians look at destruction from the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Israel is planning to expand its ground assault into the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the Israel offensive that has laid waste to much of the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

Israeli air strikes have in recent days started hitting Rafah, which is in the south of the Gaza Strip and abuts the Egyptian border.