The recent Israeli airstrikes, as reported by the Associated Press, led to the deaths of at least 44 Palestinians, including over a dozen children, in Rafah, southern Gaza.
BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 16: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on March 16, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Netanyahu's one-day visit to Berlin is being accompanied by protests, including both by people angry over Israel’s policies towards Palestinians as well as those critical of possible new legislation in Israel supported by Netanyahu that would undermine the independence and the power of Israel's Supreme Court, effectively curtailing democracy in Israel.
This attack occurred following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's directive to plan for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in the region ahead of a potential ground invasion.
Netanyahu's announcement, as reported by the Associated Press, triggered panic and raised concerns among diplomats, particularly due to the dense population of Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents reside. Many had previously followed Israeli evacuation orders, leaving uncertainty about where they could seek refuge next.
According to the report from the Associated Press, Israel claims that Rafah, situated near the border with Egypt, represents the last major stronghold of the Hamas militant group in Gaza, following months of conflict initiated by a Hamas attack in October.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, as reported by the Associated Press, cautioned against an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, warning of "disastrous consequences." He also suggested that Israel's ultimate objective is to compel Palestinians to vacate their land.
Shoukry, as reported by the Associated Press, emphasized Egypt's efforts to mediate between the conflicting parties, aiming to secure a lasting ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages taken in October in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Tensions have escalated between Netanyahu and the United States, with US officials expressing concerns about the potential consequences of an invasion of Rafah without a comprehensive plan for the civilian population, according to the report by the Associated Press.
Despite recent calls for sheltering in Rafah, Israeli airstrikes, as reported by the Associated Press, have continued to target the area, with three strikes on homes overnight resulting in the deaths of 28 people, including 10 children from three different families.
According to CBS News, Fadel al-Ghannam recounted the devastation caused by one Israeli airstrike, which resulted in the loss of his son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, their bodies torn apart. Al-Ghannam expressed deep concern over the prospect of a ground invasion of Rafah, lamenting the world's perceived silence, which he believes has allowed Israel to continue its actions unchecked. He remarked, "To this day, the world has not been fair to us."
Later that day, an Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah, as reported by Ahmed al-Sawaf, head of Rafah municipality, claimed the lives of at least 11 individuals, including three children. The casualties were transported to Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital, according to an eyewitness account provided to CBS by an AP journalist present at the scene. Additionally, two other strikes targeted policemen and senior officers in the civil police force, according to city officials.
In Khan Younis, Israeli forces reportedly fired upon Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in the area, resulting in the death of at least two people and injuring five others, as confirmed by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders.
Describing the situation, Ahmed Maghrabi, a physician at the hospital, stated on Facebook that Israeli tanks had reached the hospital gates on Saturday morning, severely limiting movement for hospital staff due to intense gunfire. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, highlighted the dire conditions, revealing that around 300 medical personnel, 450 patients, and 10,000 displaced individuals are seeking refuge at the hospital.
While the Israeli military stated that troops were not currently inside the hospital, they labeled the surrounding area as "an active combat zone," according to CBS News.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in approximately 80% of Gaza's population being displaced, plunging the territory into a severe humanitarian crisis marked by shortages of food and medical supplies.
