GAZA CITY: At least 20 Palestinian civilians were killed, and three houses were destroyed in Israeli missiles and air strikes targeting the Rafah area in southern Gaza, officials from the Gaza health ministry reported on Tuesday.
The ongoing conflict has forced tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians to seek refuge in Rafah, near Gaza’s border with Egypt, despite concerns about the safety of the area.
Early on Tuesday, residents in Khan Younis, another city in southern Gaza, reported intense Israeli attacks. Israeli tanks and planes reportedly bombed areas near the city center, escalating tensions on the ground.
Hospitals Cease Operations in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Monday that the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza, which Israeli troops raided last week, is now non-operational. Patients, including infants, have been evacuated from the facility. Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative for Gaza, expressed concern, stating, “We cannot afford to lose any hospitals.”
Peeperkorn also highlighted the precarious situation of about 4,000 displaced persons seeking refuge on the grounds of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.
The Gaza health ministry provided grim statistics, stating that more than 19,600 Palestinians have been killed, and 52,286 have been wounded during the more than two months of Israeli attacks on the enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his commitment to achieving total victory over Hamas. The recent escalation follows a surprise raid by Hamas fighters into Israel on October 7.
