The Rafah crossing point remains closed. Negotiations for a truce are due to continue this Wednesday.
The Israeli army launched a military operation on Tuesday in Rafah, taking operational control of the border crossing with Egypt on the Gaza side, and closing the two main access points for humanitarian aid.
For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the takeover of the crossing point constitutes a “important step” in war: “Seizing the Rafah crossing today is a very important step on the path to destroying Hamas’ remaining military capabilities, including the elimination of the four terrorist battalions in Rafah.”
Reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing point
The Israeli army also announced Wednesday morning that it had reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing point towards Gaza, a key point for the entry of humanitarian aid.
It was closed Sunday after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers near the crossing point.
UNICEF estimates that hundreds of families have started fleeing Rafah to other areas of Gaza that may be safer. The agency continues to respond to the critical needs of children, but it says access to the area is increasingly difficult. More than 1.4 million Palestinians are refugees in the city, displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip. The majority live in squalid tent camps, with limited access to food, water and healthcare.
Plans to enter Rafah to eliminate Hamas battalions that Israel says are based there quickly drew backlash from the international community.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “Our Israeli counterparts told us that last night’s operation was limited and designed to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and funds into the Gaza Strip.”
US suspends bomb delivery to Israel
According to a senior official in US President Joe Biden’s administration, Washington has “suspended the delivery of a cargo” bombs last week because Israel did not respond to its “concerns” concerning an announced offensive on Rafah.
The cargo then consisted of 3,500 bombs of different weights (1,700 226kg bombs and 1,800 907kg bombs). According to this same source, Washington estimates that the heaviest bombs could “to be used in Rafah” and in “dense urban environments”.
Hamas, for its part, strongly condemns Israel’s military operation. “The attack by the Nazi occupation at the Rafah border crossing with the Arab Republic of Egypt at dawn today is a serious crime against a civilian installation protected by international law. a blatant violation of all international standards and conventions.” said Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official.
This operation comes as Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators are holding discussions in Cairo with a view to a ceasefire after seven months of war between Israel and Hamas. According to Egyptian media, “All parties agree to return to the negotiating table.”