Israel stepped up airstrikes on Rafah overnight after saying it would evacuate civilians from the southern Gazan city and launch an all-out assault despite allies' warnings this could cause mass casualties.
Item 1 of 4 Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, April 25, 2024. REUTERS/Hatem KhaledPalestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, April 25, 2024.
The Gaza Strip is about 40 km long and between about 5 km and 12 km wide and is one of the, Israeli forces also resumed bombarding northern and central areas of the enclave, as well as east of Khan Younis in the south. Israel's stated goal is to destroy Hamas, though Israel has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities said on Thursday. The offensive has laid to waste much of the widely urbanised enclave, displacing most of its 2.3 million people and leaving many with little food, water or medical care.
Israel is retaliating against an Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to 253 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Iranian-backed Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction due to its occupation of Palestinian territories.
"We escape from one trap into another, searching for places Israel calls safe before they bomb us there. It is like the rat and trap game," he told Reuters via a chat app.Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council said there appeared to be fewer people in Rafah, which borders Egypt. She said teams on the ground had said people expect an invasion after the Jewish Passover holiday ends on April 30.
In the north, Israeli forces continued to pound Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, Jabalia and Zeitoun, with some residents saying Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants were fighting Israeli ground forces with anti-tank rockets, mortar bombs and sniper fire.
RULES:ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS RULES:HEADLINEROW-TOP MTVID MTPIX TOPNWS AID CIV CWP DIP GEN HEA HRGT HUMA NEWS1 NGO POL PXP TOPCMB WAR IL SWASIA MEAST EMEA ASXPAC PS EMRG ASIA PACKAGE:US-TOP-NEWS PACKAGE:WORLD-NEWS CMPNY PHON PHON1 PUBL TCOM TECH TECH08 TEL TMT
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live blog: Israel 'moving ahead' with Rafah operation — Tel AvivIsrael's war on Gaza, now in its 201st day, has killed at least 34,262 Palestinians — 70 percent of them babies, children and women — and wounded over 77,229 others as UN raises 'war crime' alert following recovery of 300+ bodies in Gaza mass graves.
Read more »
Israel Moving Ahead With Plan To Attack Rafah: ’There Is A Date,’ Netanyahu SaysI am a Colorado based reporter covering breaking news with a special emphasis on the entertainment industry, pop culture and sports. I previously covered local news in the greater Boston area, and I graduated from Northeastern University in 2017.
Read more »
Netanyahu, ahead of surgery, vows Israel will invade Rafah, despite pressure from Ramadan, USIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would invade Rafah, despite twin pressures from Ramadan and Washington.
Read more »
Middle East conflict live updates: Austin urges Israel to abandon plan for Rafah offensiveLloyd Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington and expressed concern about civilian deaths and the deepening “catastrophe” in Gaza.
Read more »
US should support Israel’s Rafah offensiveThe United States should support an Israeli operation to defeat Hamas in Rafah.
Read more »
Israel Says It Is Poised to Move on RafahIsrael's military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas holdouts in the southern Gaza Strip city, a senior Israeli defense official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Read more »