Israeli bombing in Gaza results in dozens of deaths on a ‘difficult and brutal day’
Israeli forces bombed the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday and other areas across the enclave, killing at least 45 Palestinians, and also clashed directly with militants from the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), residents and the Israeli army said.
Residents said that Israeli forces appeared to be trying to complete their control over the city of Rafah, which is located on the border with Egypt and has been the focus of an Israeli attack since early May. Tanks are making their way to the western and northern parts of the city, having already captured the city’s east, south, and centre.
Israeli forces opened fire from planes, tanks, and ships off the coast, leading to a new wave of displacement from the city, which was housing more than a million displaced people, most of whom were forced to flee again. The Gaza Ministry of Health said that at least 25 Palestinians were killed in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Rafah, and 50 others were injured. Palestinians said that a tank hit a tent housing displaced families with a shell.
One of the residents told Reuters via a chat application, “Two tanks mounted the hill overlooking the Al-Mawasi area and sent lava fire towards the tents of the poor displaced people in the area. The Israeli army said the incident was under investigation, adding a statement. A preliminary investigation indicates that the army did not launch a strike in the humanitarian area of Al-Mawasi.
The army had previously stated that it was carrying out “precise operations based on intelligence information” in the Rafah area, where its forces fought direct clashes and found tunnels used by militants. The army also stated that last week, it targeted a university that it said was a Hamas headquarters. Gunmen fired at its soldiers from there, adding that it found weapons and explosive barrels. He did not mention the name of the university.
In the Nuseirat area in central Gaza, the army said it killed dozens of militants over the past week and found a weapons depot containing mortar shells and military equipment belonging to the Hamas movement.
Some Rafah residents stated that the pace of the Israeli attack has accelerated over the past two days and that the sounds of explosions and gunfire have rarely stopped. A resident named Hatem (45 years old) said via text message, “Last night was one of the worst nights in western Rafah. Bombs, planes, tanks, and even boats from the sea bombed the area. We feel that the occupation is trying to gain control of the city. He added, “At the same time, there are strong strikes from the resistance against them, and this may be what slows down their operations.
