On Monday, May 13th, some of the most intense battles in weeks broke out in both northern and southern Gaza. In southern Gaza, tanks and troops entered Rafah through a highway; in northern Gaza, the Israeli army once again penetrated the outskirts of the rubble, reclaiming an area controlled by Hamas that they claimed to have destroyed months ago.
The traditional Israeli Memorial Day for fallen soldiers began on Sunday and ended on Monday, enveloping the nation in deep sorrow and anger.
In Rafah bordering Egypt, Israeli actions led to the closure of a major aid crossing, worsening an already dire situation, according to humanitarian organizations.
Prior to this, to escape the conflict in the north, around half of Gaza’s population fled to the south, seeking refuge in Rafah. Now, hundreds of thousands are once again forced to flee.
Israel has recently intensified airstrikes and ground operations in eastern Rafah.
Last week, Israel ordered residents to leave the eastern part of Rafah, expanding the evacuation order to the central region in recent days, prompting hundreds of thousands to seek safety.
Residents report that Israeli airstrikes and ground shelling are escalating, with tanks cutting through the north-south Salahuddin Road that separates the east and central areas of the city.
Bassam, 57, from the Shaboura community in Rafah, said, “The tanks have cut off Salahuddin Road in the east, and the forces are now gathering near the construction area in the southeast. The situation is terrifying, with the sound of explosions never ceasing.”
Over the past 24 hours, Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities reported over 57 fatalities in the ongoing conflict, bringing the total Palestinian death toll to over 35,000. However, their numbers do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
In January, the Israeli military claimed to have “destroyed Hamas’s military infrastructure in Jabalia,” but they continue to periodically return to the area to combat armed militants.
Armed branches of Hamas and Islamic Jihad issued a joint statement, claiming to have launched mortar shells at Israeli forces gathered within Rafah port, which Israel seized last week.
Israeli forces are on a mission to eliminate Hamas entirely, while Hamas has vowed to destroy Israel. The terrorist organization launched an attack on Israel on October 7th, resulting in over 1,200 casualties, with more than 250 held as hostages.
In regions near Gaza, Israeli military repeatedly sounded alarms, warning Israeli citizens of potential cross-border rocket and mortar attacks.
On Memorial Day, official ceremonies and small events were held at military cemeteries nationwide to honor fallen soldiers and attack victims.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending the Memorial Day event in Jerusalem, stated that the war against Hamas militants is crucial to ensuring Israel’s “survival, freedom, security, and prosperity.”
He emphasized, “Our struggle for independence is ongoing.”
Throughout its 76-year history, the country has endured numerous wars and conflicts. Since Hamas’s sudden attack on October 7th last year, over 600 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
The attacks on Rafah by Israel have led to the most severe rift between Israel and its main ally, the United States, in decades. For the first time since the beginning of the conflict, the U.S. has halted the delivery of certain weapons.
Washington’s decision came as Israel attacked Rafah without a plan to protect civilians, a measure the U.S. has yet to witness.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s office reported he briefed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the “precise operations” in the Rafah area, aimed at avoiding harm to Palestinian civilians.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, stated on Sunday that the scale of Israel’s offensive on Rafah remains within what Washington deems an acceptable range.