GAZA: Israel struck one of the largest residential towers in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, residents said, intensifying pressure on the last area of the enclave it has not yet invaded and where over a million displaced Palestinian civilians are sheltering.
The strike, which damaged the 12-floor building situated near the border with Egypt, resulted in dozens of families being left homeless.
Residents recounted a chaotic scene as they received a 30-minute warning from Israeli forces to evacuate the building at night. Mohammad Al-Nabrees, one of the tower’s 300 residents, described scenes of panic as people rushed to flee, with some sustaining injuries in the process, including a pregnant woman.
The strike on the residential tower adds to the mounting devastation in Gaza, where over a million displaced Palestinians are seeking refuge amidst relentless Israeli airstrikes and ground assaults. Health authorities in Gaza reported nearly 31,000 Palestinians killed and over 72,500 wounded since the onset of Israel’s offensive, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the ongoing violence, emphasizing the urgent need for an end to hostilities to facilitate meaningful aid distribution in Gaza. The organization also urged Israel to treat Palestinians in its custody humanely.
Negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages appeared to stall, with Palestinian resistance group Hamas sources indicating reluctance to engage in further talks without guarantees from Israel. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported continued operations in Gaza, including arrests, weapon seizures, and the targeting of alleged fighters in various areas.
Amidst the escalating violence, Gaza’s health ministry reported at least 82 people killed in Israeli attacks across the territory, with civilian casualties mounting in areas like Khan Younis and the northern Gaza Strip.
The offensive has plunged the Palestinian territory, already reeling from a 17-year Israel-led blockade, into a humanitarian catastrophe. Much of the territory has been reduced to rubble and most of the 2.3 million Palestinian population have been displaced, with the United Nations warning of disease and starvation.
