and mitigate some of the impact? but at the moment the israelis are making very clear that at some point they do feel they are going to have to launch this offensive in rafah. and, you know, the potential for bloodshed is huge. and that was our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, in jerusalem. the israeli officials have reacted strongly from news that the idf will be sanctioned by the us. antony blinken is expected to ban from us military assistance of training members of the battalion, a special unit for ultraorthodox soldiers. the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said he would act against the reported moves. it comes as the palestinian red crescent says one of its drivers was killed in the