Rafah Under Attack: Multi-front Assault in Gaza War
Israeli Forces Launch Deadly Attack on City of Rafah
Israeli forces have unleashed a heavy attack on the city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, which has become the last refuge for approximately 1.5 million Palestinians. The assault involved air and ground bombardment, with Israeli warplanes joining occupation forces in the attack.
Concerns of a possible land invasion had been mounting, and helicopters were seen flying over the skies of Rafah. Warships off the Gaza Strip also took part in the devastating attack, in which at least 100 people lost their lives and 11 buildings, including two mosques, were destroyed.
Reports from Al Jazeera indicate that areas close to the Egyptian border were also bombed by Israel. The Israeli army claimed that the attacks in Rafah were part of a hostage rescue operation and announced that two hostages held in the Gaza Strip had been rescued.
The rescue operation was said to have involved an armed conflict, and the Israeli army spokesman confirmed the release of two hostages – 61-year-old Fernando Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har.
The onslaught has left Rafah, which was once home to a population of around 270,000, now surrounded by tents as there is nowhere else to go for those fleeing the massacre.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a land invasion of Rafah is imminent, claiming that they would create a safe corridor for civilians without blushing. However, the world is warning that such an attack would lead to disaster for the two-thirds of the Gaza Strip’s population that has taken refuge there.
Leaders from around the world, including US President Joe Biden, have issued repeated warnings against a land invasion of Rafah, stressing the need to ensure the safety of more than 1 million people seeking refuge in the city. President Biden recently had a telephone conversation with Netanyahu, emphasizing the importance of not starting a military operation without ensuring the safety of the civilian population.
