The Las Vegas Strip and Egypt Israel have the jurisdiction over the entire land borders of Palestine – its military said last Wednesday.
According to a television briefing, the Israeli army had gained “operational” control over the Philadelphia Corridor, which is Gaza’s only border with Israel. This 14-kilometer (9-mile) corridor was code-named ‘Philadelphia’.
Hamas is a Palestinian armed group that runs Gaza.
An Israeli military official earlier stated that there were Israeli “ground troops” in some parts of this corridor although Hagari did not say what he meant by “operational”.
The buffer zone in southern Gaza along the Egyptian border is the only land border in Gaza without direct Israeli control.
They first entered Rafah center on Tuesday, not minding an order given by United Nations Supreme Court to immediately stop attacking the city.
On October 7 Hamas took hostages from Israel who should be released immediately and unconditionally according to this ruling.
Consequently, they preferred retreating into this buffer zone set by Egypt than other offensives where they stayed put.
Haitham al Hams is deputy director of Ambulance and Emergency services department in Rafah said: “We received distress calls from residents of Tel Sultan as displaced people moved from their places of residence to safe areas. , targeting them.”
Nineteen civilians died due to Israeli airstrikes and shelling on Gaza Strip according to Palestinian health officials. The charges are denied by Hamas which rules Gaza but it says that these Islamist group members live among innocent people so as to hide themselves from shooting.
Patients in besieged Gaza strip are dying because they are not being treated therefore Washington must force Israelis to let aid go through at Rafah crossing if there isn’t any sign that it will happen soon according to Health Minister Majid Abu Rahman for whom his country’s authorities were killing neglected patients suffering death.
Israel’s national security adviser Chachi Hanegbi has predicted that the fighting in Gaza will continue until at least 2024, indicating that Israel is not yet ready to stop the war since Hamas is demanding its detainees be swapped with Palestinian inmates.
Hanegbi argued, “Rafah battle is not meaningless war,” reiterating that their goal is to end Hamas rule over Gaza and keep it as well as its allies from attacking Israel.
The enclave could become lawless, chaotic and see a resurgent Hamas without a post-war plan for Gaza, warns US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
On Tuesday, the United States expressed disbelief at the ongoing operation and reiterated its opposition to a major ground offensive against Rafah, despite being Israel’s closest ally.
More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, according to the enclave’s health ministry.
Israel has waged this war because of an incident on October 7 when Hamas-led militants attacked southern communities of Israel killing about 1,200 individuals and taking hostage 250 people, as reported by Israeli sources.
What happened to ceasefire talks
There was no word on progress in ceasefire and hostage release talks on Wednesday. Hamas claims that it is useless to hold negotiations while Israel continues its operations against Rafah.
They released a communique claiming that they had recorded a number of successful strikes using antitank missiles and shells fired from mortars which targeted the forces invading Rafah and even detonated explosive planted devices.
The three soldiers were killed- three others seriously wounded in action. The building was blown up by an explosive device–according to Public broadcaster Kan Radio.
Palestinian health officials said Israeli artillery fire injured multiple people; warehouses east of Rafah were burning; Meanwhile local residents reported extensive bombing destroying many homes in evacuated areas;
About one million Palestinians who sought refuge in Rafah at the south end of Gaza have now fled there since their country ordered them out—this is according to UN agency for Palestinian refugees as reported yesterday.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has withdrawn its medical teams from its field hospital situated in Al-Mawasi area which is reserved for civilian evacuation due to continuous shelling.
Two PRCS staff members died when their ambulance was struck. Five more Palestinians also died during another Israeli airstrike of a house located within Gaza City medics revealed.
Late overnight airstrikes carried out by Israel in Khan Younis claim three lives, among whom is veteran police officer Salama Baraka with his family members telling the press while in another mishap, four persons including children were killed according to paramedics.
In Gaza City residential areas had been shelled and a deep incursion was made into Jabaliya by Israeli forces, where extensive high-rise housing complexes were leveled, residents claimed
Delivery of aid is slowing in Gaza causing malnutrition. Two-thirds of humanitarian assistance coming to the enclave through Rafah have been blocked since Israel began attacking this area earlier this month, according to Wednesday’s United Nations famine warning.
