Israeli forces take control of Rafah crossing with Egypt

The situation in Rafah, southern Gaza, remains tense as Israeli forces continue their military operation against Hamas. The Israeli official stated that they will continue to operate in the area, while Hamas authorities dismissed Israel's description of its operation as "limited" and called it "nothing but lies". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected US President Joe Biden's threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it assaults Rafah. The UN reported that approximately 80,000 people have evacuated the city, with hospitals overwhelmed by patients suffering from malnutrition and disease. Israeli troops have entered Rafah's eastern sector, claiming they are pursuing Hamas members. According to local health officials, Israel has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians in its genocidal war.

Over 100,000 people have fled the city of Rafah in Gaza after Israel intensified its bombardment, with UN officials tracking the number of displaced individuals. The mass exodus is expected to continue, sparking deep concern among humanitarian organizations and international observers.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, citing new information that Hamas militants were operating in the area. The IDF described the scope of the operations as "very limited" and called for civilians to leave the area. The United Nations warned of a potential collapse of aid flow to Palestinians from the closure. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for crossings into Gaza to be reopened immediately, while the Palestinian border crossing authority confirmed that the border was closed. The closure halted the flow of aid into the enclave, drawing immediate condemnation from international officials.

The Israeli military has taken control of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, with reports of continuous bombardment and heavy fighting throughout the night. According to various sources, including the Israeli military, Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to a ceasefire proposal from mediators, but Israel insists that the deal did not meet its core demands.