The Israeli army launched air raids on Rafah in southern Gaza after warning of an imminent ground offensive in the border town where around 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge since fleeing attacks through the enclave.
More than four months of relentless attacks by land, air and sea have razed much of the Gaza Strip, pushing its population of 2.3 million to the brink of famine, according to the United Nations.
In recent weeks, international concern has focused on Rafah, where a ground invasion could displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians across the border with Egypt.
The last city spared from Israeli ground troops, Rafah also serves as the main humanitarian entry point via neighboring Egypt for desperately needed relief supplies.
Israel has warned it will expand its ground operations in Rafah if the Palestinian armed group Hamas does not release the last prisoners held in Gaza by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in March.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Thursday that 99 people were killed overnight in the Gaza Strip, most of them women, children and the elderly.
The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has risen to 29,410 since October 7, the ministry said, adding that at least 69,465 people have been injured.
Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was scheduled to arrive in Israel on Thursday – his second stop in the region after Egypt as part of U.S. efforts to advance a agreement providing for the exchange of captives. for Palestinian prisoners and to negotiate a truce.
Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department, said Washington was hoping for an “agreement securing a temporary ceasefire to allow hostages to be released and humanitarian aid to be obtained” but declined to give any details. details on current negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the army would continue fighting until it destroyed Hamas and freed the remaining prisoners.
