On Wednesday, June 19, Israeli tanks advanced towards the western part of Rafah city in Gaza with the support of warplanes and drones. Hamas reported that this military operation by Israel resulted in 8 deaths.
Residents in Gaza stated that after midnight, tanks entered five residential areas. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for about 8 months with no sign of simmering down. Despite international mediation efforts backed by the United States to arrange ceasefire negotiations, Israel and Hamas have not been convinced to halt the violence.
Medical sources informed Reuters on Wednesday that 12 Palestinians lost their lives in another Israeli airstrike while some people and vendors were waiting for aid convoys in the southern streets of Rafah.
While the Israeli army has occupied much of Gaza’s territory, their goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing hostages has not been achieved yet.
Healthcare workers and media controlled by Hamas reported that 8 Palestinians were killed in Al-Mawasi, with many families fleeing in panic to the north. The identities of the deceased were not disclosed, and the Israeli military stated they are investigating this report.
Residents mentioned that Israeli forces destroyed several houses in western Rafah.
On Tuesday, an Israeli commander in Rafah briefed military journalists about the Israeli army’s plans to target two other locations with Hamas combatants, including Shaboura and Tel Al-Sultan.
Colonel Liron Batito, the Givati Brigade commander, told Army Radio, “The Hamas camps there have not been completely destroyed, and we need to dismantle them thoroughly. With the current intensity, we estimate it will take about a month.”
The Israeli army still controls the border between Rafah and Egypt. Videos circulating on social media showed buildings burning at Rafah crossing, with Israeli tanks stationed there.
Israeli authorities stated that assistance to Gaza has not been hindered despite the destruction.
Furthermore, Israeli tanks were deployed back to the Zeitoun residential area in the northern part of Gaza city. Residents reported intense shelling by tanks and warplanes, along with gunfire exchanges with Hamas combatants.
Healthcare workers mentioned that a house was struck in Sheikh Radwan, another suburb of Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of 4 Palestinians, including a child.
The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad organization reported engaging in combat with the Israeli army using anti-tank rockets and mortars, setting off pre-set explosive devices in some areas.
The Israeli military mentioned that Palestinian gunmen fired rockets towards Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza on Wednesday night.
Efforts to broker ceasefires since the week-long truce in November have repeatedly failed, with Hamas insisting on a complete end to the war and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu refuses to end the conflict before the elimination of Hamas and the release of hostages.
On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Office stated that the Israeli army may have violated the laws of war several times in the Gaza conflict by not distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
The Israeli mission in Geneva at the United Nations rejected this analysis, claiming there are “flaws in the facts, law, and methodology.”