Israel-Hamas: Airstrikes in Rafah raise fears of imminent ground assault

Israel bombed at least four homes in Rafah on Wednesday, raising new fear among the more than a million Palestinians sheltering in the last refuge on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip that a long-threatened ground assault could be coming. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his cancellation of a planned visit to Washington by top aides this week was meant to show Hamas that Israel would not bend to growing international pressure to halt operations.

• Netanyahu says Israel could ‘do it alone’ if U.S. opposes Rafah assault