Israeli airstrikes on Rafah overnight resulted in the deaths of at least six Palestinians, as reported by medics on Thursday. Despite warnings from allies about potential mass casualties, Israel declared its intention to evacuate civilians from the Gaza border city and launch a full-scale assault.
The airstrikes also targeted northern and central areas of the Gaza Strip, as well as areas east of Khan Younis in the south.
The escalation in Israeli threats to invade Rafah, where approximately a million civilians sought refuge, prompted some families to leave for nearby areas or attempt to move northward. However, many remained uncertain about where to seek safety, having experienced the unpredictability of the conflict over the past 200 days.
Mohammad Nasser, a 34-year-old father of three, shared his experience of fleeing Rafah two weeks ago to avoid potential Israeli invasion. He described the constant search for safe havens as akin to a “rat and trap game,” expressing doubt about the prospect of improvement.
Reports from Gaza medics and Hamas media confirmed multiple Israeli airstrikes on Rafah early Thursday, resulting in casualties, including a local journalist. In addition, Israeli tank fire near the town of Al-Zawyda in central Gaza claimed the lives of four individuals, according to local medics.
Amid the ongoing conflict, a Palestinian civil defense team called for a United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes at a Gaza hospital, claiming nearly 400 bodies were found in mass graves after Israeli forces left the area. The Israeli military dismissed these claims as “baseless and unfounded.”
In northern Gaza, Israeli forces continued their bombardment of several areas, with residents reporting clashes between militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Israeli ground forces. The Palestine Telecommunications Company reported internet service disruptions in central and southern Gaza, attributing them to Israeli military operations.
Following an Israeli military pullback at the beginning of April, Palestinians in Gaza found themselves once again fleeing from intense bombing, described as some of the war’s worst.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government indicated its determination to proceed with plans for a ground operation in Rafah, despite pleas from Western countries, including the United States, to exercise restraint.
As the conflict enters its seventh month, Gaza health authorities reported a death toll of at least 34,305 Palestinians. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displacement, raising concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis and famine in the densely populated enclave.
Israel has reiterated its commitment to eradicate Hamas since the group’s cross-border attack in October, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostages, according to Israeli accounts.
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