Many Palestinians have sought safety in Rafah. Israel attacked Rafah on the night of Monday. They attacked from the air. That’s what the health authorities in the Gaza Strip say. Around 100 people were killed in the attacks, they say.
Israel also extracted two hostages from the same city. The attacks were violent, says the Palestinian Red Crescent.
People heard several loud bangs. Smoke rose over the city. That’s what journalists from the AFP news agency say. Many were sleeping when the attacks started. People panicked, people in the area told the Reuters news agency. Several said they feared Israel had invaded Rafah from the ground.
Israel’s military (IDF) says it has attacked Rafah from the air. We have attacked “terrorist targets”, says the IDF.
Around 1.5 million people are in Rafah. The small town is located in the very south of the Gaza Strip. The city is located near Egypt.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the IDF will invade Rafah from the ground. He is the Prime Minister of Israel. The President of the United States has said that it cannot happen without a plan. The civilians must be protected, said Joe Biden.
Several have warned that an invasion of Rafah will have major consequences. Espen Barth Eide says he fears a bloodbath. He is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The civilians have nowhere to flee, he said.