The recent Israeli attacks on Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, have resulted in the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians. According to Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, 20 people lost their lives in residential buildings during the night-time attacks, while a family of seven was 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 to target the remaining strongholds of Hamas. Despite this, Israel’s allies have expressed concerns and urged caution as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians seek shelter in the city.
Hamas delegation has traveled to Egypt for negotiations regarding the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It is unclear whether the planned military operation will proceed as the outcome of these negotiations could potentially lead to a de-escalation of tensions and avoid further violence in Rafah.
