Explosions and smoke visible in eastern Rafah

Israeli tanks on Tuesday advanced deeper into the city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge to escape the war. International allies and humanitarian aid groups have repeatedly warned Israel against invading Rafah, which is overcrowded with refugees. The Israeli side reports Reuters, states four Hamas battalions stationed in Rafah. Israel insists on the need to carry out an operation in Rafah to finally put an end to extremist Palestinian groups. (The radical group Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization in the US, EU and UK.)

In recent days, fighting in the Gaza Strip has escalated again, particularly in the north of the strip, where IDF units, which had previously announced the defeat of Hamas, have begun to return.

Particularly intense fire occurred on Tuesday evening in the town of Jabaliya in the north of the sector. 75 years ago, a large camp for displaced Palestinians was built in Jabaliya, Reuters notes.

“Many people were trapped in their homes. We lost contact with some relatives who were warned by telephone calls from the Israeli army to leave their homes. But the residents did not want to leave the city.” A 57-year-old father of six children told Reuters about this, he used an international calling card.

In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, Palestinian refugees said they saw smoke over the eastern part of the city and the sound of explosions, apparently in a residential area.