According to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, at least 27 Palestinians have lost their lives due to recent Israeli attacks on Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. The attacks, which occurred during the night, resulted in the deaths of 20 people in residential buildings. Additionally, a family of seven in Rafah was reportedly killed in shelling on Monday morning. However, the accuracy of this information could not be independently verified.
In response to these attacks, Israel has announced plans to launch a military offensive in Rafah in order to target the remaining strongholds of Hamas. Despite this, Israel’s allies have expressed concerns and have urged caution as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians seek shelter in the city.
It is unclear whether the planned military operation will proceed, as a Hamas delegation has traveled to Egypt for negotiations regarding the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The outcome of these negotiations could potentially lead to a de-escalation of tensions and the avoidance of further violence in Rafah.