As the US, Egypt, and Qatar hold discussions to establish a ceasefire in the fighting, Israeli fighting Cabinet member Benny Gantz reported “promising early signs of progress” on a fresh agreement to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Just north of Rafah, near the city of Khan Younis, the Israeli army (IDF) said that it has intensified operations. It did not immediately react to a request for comment, nor did it mention attacks on Rafah itself in its daily account of events in Gaza.
Rafah, on the southernmost edge of the enclave near the Egyptian border, is thought to be home to about 1.5 million people, the most of whom have fled their homes further north to avoid Israel’s violence.
According to UN data and authorities, the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza from Egypt has all but stopped during the last two weeks, and the distribution of the food that does make it through has become more challenging.
Despite growing international opposition, especially from steadfast friend the United States, Israel has stated that it is getting ready for a land invasion on Rafah because to concerns for civilian lives.
When text messages were sent to Rafah inhabitants, they reported large explosions and multiple Israeli air attacks, along with naval boats firing on locations along the beach.
Following a strike on the Al-Noor family’s Rafah home, which was reduced to rubble, Reuters video journalists captured the aftermath, showing over a dozen victims covered in white or black shrouds and grieving relatives at a hospital in Rafah.
Along with Noor’s parents, brother, and other family members, Abdulrahman Juma reported that his wife Noor, who belonged to the Al-Noor family, and his one-year-old daughter Kinza had also perished in the hit.
Juma had Kinza’s body in her arms, covered in a white shroud smeared with blood. “This person sitting on my lap stole my soul. Her age is 1.5 years old,” he stated.
Israel claims that Hamas hides in civilian buildings; the Palestinian organization disputes this.
Additionally, locals reported that Israeli tanks had moved into Al-Mawasi, which was formerly a relatively safe neighborhood where the army had advised Palestinians to seek refuge, to the west of Khan Younis.
Residents said that the tanks withdrew after a few hours, but they did manage to reach the coastline route, essentially closing off Khan Younis and Rafah from the rest of the Gaza Strip.
Since the conflict began on October 7, 29,313 people have died in Gaza, with 118 of the deaths occurring in the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry of Gaza, which reported 69,333 injuries on Wednesday.
According to Israeli counts, Hamas launched an attack into southern Israel on October 7, murdering 1,200 people and kidnapping 253. This action started the war.
Israel’s air and ground assault on Gaza, which has resulted in the majority of the 2.3 million people living there being displaced, widespread starvation, and the destruction of much of the area, is in response to its vow to destroy Hamas.
In a live news briefing, Gantz stated that “there are promising early signs of possible progress” in the ongoing efforts to arrange a fresh hostage release agreement.
He declared, “We will not give up on finding a solution and we will seize every chance to bring our boys and girls home.”
Read more: Gaza Ceasefire Vote: US Stands Firm with Veto Threat
Gantz, however, issued a warning, saying that if a new agreement could not be reached, Israeli forces would continue to fight in Gaza until the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan the next month.
After weeks of negotiations without success, Israel called Hamas’ demand for more hostage releases and an end to the war and Israeli departure from Gaza “delusional.”
A week-long truce in late November marked the only break in combat thus far, during which 110 hostages were released in return for 240 Palestinian inmates detained in Israel. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is getting worse every day.
The World Food announced on Tuesday that it had stopped sending food supplies to the northern part of Gaza after hungry crowds stormed its vehicles and they were subjected to shooting and looting.
Jordan has airdropped four tons of food, fuel, and medication to Tal Al-Hawa Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to the British government, but “more aid is needed, and fast.”