GAZA: Heavy fight is taking place on the ground as Israeli forces are conducting brutal operations in several parts of Rafah city, Arab media reported on Friday. Reports are emerging of heavy clashes between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in the east of the city. According to local media reports, Hamas’ fighters also fire rockets and mortars and detonate explosive materials with Israeli troop and tanks pushing deeper into the city. Israeli troops are carrying out operations to blow up buildings in the city while intense artillery shelling hitting the Sabra and Zeitoun neighbourhoods of Gaza has also been reported.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel is ready to “stand alone”, in a thinly indirect reply to US President Joe Biden’s warning that weapons supplies could be withheld.
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Biden’s administration has opposed any Israeli military offensive in Rafah. US media reported that one shipment of US bombs had been paused over fears that they would be used in Rafaha. In a statement, US President Joe Biden said that if Israel goes “into Rafah, he will not supply the arms.
Around 80,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah and thousands are making efforts to leave as Israel army’s ground invasion ramps up. Earlier, media reported that Israeli military takeover of the Rafah border crossing has shut down the entry of help and aid into the Gaza Strip for the last three days, “completely crippling aid operations” as deprivation spreads, the United Nations says.
Gaza Health Ministry said that more than 34,904 mostly women and children have been killed and more than 78,514 people wounded in Israeli brutal attacks on Gaza since October 7.
