At least 13 people, including children, were killed in Israeli attacks on two homes in Rafah, as part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli forces have killed at least 27 Palestinians in tank and air attacks across Gaza. Tanks have advanced further into northwest Rafah near the border with Egypt. The attacks continued despite a parallel conflict in the Lebanon-Israel border area involving Hamas’s allies Hezbollah.
In Rafah, Israeli air raids destroyed two residential properties in the Mesbah area, resulting in the deaths of 13 Palestinians, including three children. Civil defence crews are working to rescue people trapped in the debris, while tanks advanced into the northwest area of Rafah, engaging in fierce battles with Hamas fighters. The violence also spread to other areas, with eight people killed by tank shelling in the Nuseirat refugee camp, and six others killed in an air raid in Gaza City.
Efforts to secure a truce between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing, but obstacles remain, including Israel’s demand to maintain forces in the Philadelphi Corridor and disagreements over a prisoner exchange. The current conflict began after Hamas fighters entered Israel on October 7, leading to a series of retaliatory attacks by Israel that have resulted in a high number of Palestinian casualties and displacements.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a hunger crisis, allegations of genocide, and ongoing violence threatening the lives of civilians. International mediators have been unsuccessful in brokering a lasting peace deal, as the conflict shows no signs of abating.
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