The Israeli military said Tuesday that it had taken operational control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which is on the border with Egypt. This is the only crossing that connects the Gaza Strip with territory that does not belong to Israel.
Witnesses told the BBC that throughout the night there were flares lighting up the sky, as well as the constant sound of Israeli bombing. The army said it had killed 20 people they claim are “Hamas terrorists.”
This is still a very limited operation and not, for now, the Rafah large-scale ground offensive, which world powers have warned against due to the humanitarian consequences in a city full of Palestinians who fled fighting in other parts of Gaza.
The Palestinian city of Rafah has been, since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a center of refuge for the civilian population and an entry point for humanitarian aid.
All this occurs after this Monday the Israeli army ordered about 100,000 Palestinians to leave some areas in the east of the city and go to an “expanded humanitarian zone” in Khan Younis and al Mawasi.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did so using text messages, flyers and social media posts to ask the population to move.
“The IDF began a precise counterterrorism operation in the eastern Rafah area. Following intelligence information indicating that the Rafah crossing in eastern Rafah was being used for terrorist purposes, IDF troops gained operational control of the Gaza side of the crossing overnight (Monday).” the army statement said.
The military assured that, as part of its operation, “they attacked and eliminated Hamas terrorist targets in the Rafah area,” and “approximately 20 terrorists have been eliminated and three operational tunnels have been located.” The BBC has not verified this information.
In an early morning press briefing, the IDF said the Kerem Shalom crossing is also currently closed and will reopen once the security situation allows.
Increased diplomatic pressure
The situation on the ground comes as efforts to reach a negotiated solution to the crisis continue.
Hamas announced this Monday that it accepts a ceasefire proposal in Gaza made by Egypt and Qatarwhich has raised hopes about a pause in the conflict.
Hamas specified that the head of its political office, Ismail Haniya, communicated its decision to the Prime Minister of Qatar and the Egyptian Intelligence Minister.
The Qataris have been mediators in the possible hostage deal, sending their team back to Cairo so they can talk again about a ceasefire.
The announcement was welcomed with hope both in the Palestinian territories and in part of the international community.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the ceasefire offer from Egypt and Qatar “is far from the demands” of his government, although he agreed to negotiate and announced the upcoming sending of a delegation to the mediating countries.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has warned of the impact dwindling aid supplies will have on civilians.
“The biggest problem we have had in the last 24 to 48 hours is the border crossing and the lack of relief supplies,” agency spokesperson Louise Wateridge told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
The situation is “extremely worrying,” he says.
Looking ahead, he warns of the risk to the health of Gazans, stating that the health situation is deteriorating and that very high temperatures are expected in the summer, with many people currently sheltering in plastic tents.
Wateridge, who is in Rafah, says the atmosphere is dull. Many are waiting to see what happens next, while some are leaving town, she says.
*With reporting by Yolande Knell.
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- What is the strategic importance of Rafah and why is there concern about an Israeli military offensive on that Gaza city?
- What is known about the ceasefire proposal for Gaza accepted by Hamas that Israel is now analyzing
- Which countries have taken concrete actions to pressure Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza