Israeli Takes Over Rafah Border Crossing in Gaza, Killing 20 Hamas Members

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has resulted in the closure of the Rafah border crossing, according to a Gaza border official. Israeli media outlets such as Haaretz and Reuters have reported that the Israeli Armed Forces have taken over the Rafah border crossing on the Gaza side. This has led to the destruction of over 150 targets belonging to the extremist organization Hamas and the killing of at least 20 of its members.

Rafah is situated on the border between Gaza and Egypt, making it a critical entry point for civilians who have fled war from other parts of Gaza. The Kerem Shalom border crossing between Gaza, Israel, and Egypt is also closed due to the presence of Israeli tanks in Rafah. Social media has shared videos of tanks in Rafah, further adding to concerns about aid delivery to Gaza through this crucial entry point.

On Monday evening, Israel issued an evacuation order for the eastern parts of Rafah, followed by numerous airstrikes. The US and UN have voiced opposition to Israel starting a ground operation in Rafah. However, Israeli forces have been positioned east of Rafah since Monday evening, conducting searches in the area. At least five people were killed in early Tuesday morning airstrikes, with others injured.

Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal to end fighting in Gaza, but according to Israeli leadership, this proposal did not meet their demands. Despite this ceasefire offer, Israeli airstrikes continue unabated. Possible terms of this ceasefire include a phased approach aimed at ending hostilities and prisoner exchanges.

The ongoing battles in Gaza have had devastating humanitarian consequences, leading to significant loss of life and destruction of residential buildings. Over 34,700 people have been killed in Gaza so far, with most being women and children. According to reports by UNICEF, more than 70% of residential buildings in Gaza have been destroyed due to violence related to this conflict.

This article was rewritten for uniqueness by shuffling paragraphs order and moving text between them while keeping original content intact