Palestinian residents of the southern Gaza city of Rafah have reported an escalation of fighting Tuesday as Israeli forces pressed their assault on the border town once seen as the territory’s last refuge. Israel says it is carrying out limited operations in eastern Rafah along the Gaza-Egypt border, as the United States and other allies of Israel have warned against a full-fledged offensive in the city.
Here’s the latest:
Quick Read
- Fighting escalates in Rafah as Israel pushes ahead with its offensive
- Palestinian residents report increased fighting as Israeli forces continue their assault on Rafah.
- Israel is conducting operations along the Gaza-Egypt border, with global allies warning against a full-scale offensive.
- Israeli leaders assert the need to dismantle Hamas and rescue hostages taken during the October 7th attack.
- Nearly 1 million Palestinians have fled Rafah, many already displaced, now seeking refuge in squalid camps with limited resources.
- More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
- Hamas’ October 7th attack killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and resulted in around 250 hostages being taken.
- Current developments include Spain, Norway, and Ireland recognizing a Palestinian state, and Israeli PM Netanyahu attributing a deadly weekend strike to a “tragic mishap.”
The Associated Press has the story:
Fighting escalates in Rafah as Israel pushes ahead with its offensive
Palestinian residents of the southern Gaza city of Rafah have reported an escalation of fighting Tuesday as Israeli forces pressed their assault on the border town once seen as the territory’s last refuge. Israel says it is carrying out limited operations in eastern Rafah along the Gaza-Egypt border, as the United States and other allies of Israel have warned against a full-fledged offensive in the city.
Israeli leaders say their forces must enter Rafah to dismantle Hamas and return hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.
Fighting in Rafah has caused nearly 1 million Palestinians to flee, most of whom had already been displaced in the war between Israel and Hamas. They now seek refuge in squalid tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, where they lack shelter, food, water and other essentials for survival, the U.N. says.
Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.
WOMEN AND GIRLS SUFFERING THE MOST IN GAZA, SAYS HEAD OF U.N. AGENCY FOR GENDER EQUALITY
UNITED NATIONS – The head of the United Nations agency promoting gender equality is demanding a halt to the war in Gaza, saying women and girls are suffering the most.
Sima Bahous, executive director of U.N. Women, said Tuesday more than 10,000 women have been killed in the seven months of fighting – including scores of women and children “horrifically killed” by an Israeli airstrike Monday while sleeping in tents in what was supposed to be a safe zone in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.
Bahous told a U.N. Security Council meeting it is “for all women and girls caught in this conflict that we demand a permanent cease-fire, unhindered humanitarian access, the release of all hostages, the determined pursuit of peace, and a two-state solution.”
“This war must stop because women and girls are bearing the brunt of it,” Bahous told the meeting on the role of women and youth in promoting international peace and security.
ISRAELI ARMY SAYS FIRE IN RAFAH AIRSTRIKE WAS CAUSED BY SECONDARY BLAST
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says an initial investigation into a strike that sparked a deadly fire in a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah has found the blaze was caused by a secondary explosion.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, said Tuesday that the military fired two 17-kilogram (37-pound) munitions that targeted two senior Hamas militants. He said the munitions would have been too small to ignite a fire on their own and that the military is looking into the possibility that weapons were stored in the area.
The strike or subsequent fire also could have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the densely populated tent camp housing displaced people.
Palestinian health officials say at least 45 people, around half of them women and children, were killed in Sunday’s strike.
The strike caused widespread outrage, including from some of Israel’s closest allies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was the result of a “tragic mishap.”
Currently:
— Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognize a Palestinian state as EU rift with Israel widens.
— Netanyahu says deadly Israeli strike in Rafah over the weekend was the result of a “tragic mishap.”
— As Israel attacks Rafah, Palestinians are living in tents and scrounging for food.
— An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon kills 2 people near a hospital, officials say.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
