CAIRO. Israeli forces launched a heavy bombardment on central and southern Gaza on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 Palestinians. Concurrently, tank units have advanced to the western outskirts of Rafah, according to local reports.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts by U.S.-backed Qatari and Egyptian mediators, aimed at ending the hostilities and addressing the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, no progress has been made. Sources close to the negotiations revealed that a breakthrough remains elusive.
A month following the commencement of Israel’s operation in Rafah, aimed at dismantling the remaining Hamas combat units, tank-led forces have now moved to the southwestern edges of the city near the Gaza-Egypt border. Eyewitnesses reported tanks positioned in the al-Izba district close to the Mediterranean, with snipers occupying strategic buildings, effectively trapping residents in their homes. “Israeli machinegun fire has made it too dangerous to venture outside,” one resident shared.
In the latest violence, Gaza health officials confirmed that two Palestinians were killed and several wounded in western Rafah due to tank shelling. In central Gaza, overnight bombardments claimed at least 15 lives, according to Palestinian medics.
“I think the occupation forces are trying to reach the beach area of Rafah. The raids and the bombing overnight were tactical, they entered under heavy fire and then retreated,” a local resident told Reuters via a chat app.
Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on a house in Khan Younis, north of Rafah, killed eight people and injured several others, including children, according to medical sources. In northern Gaza, an airstrike on a Gaza City school building sheltering displaced families resulted in three fatalities, rescue workers reported.
The Israeli military stated it had targeted Hamas gunmen operating from a container inside the school premises. This incident is reminiscent of a similar strike on a U.N. school building in al-Nuseirat, central Gaza, on Thursday, which medical officials said killed 40 people, including 14 children. Israel claimed that many militants were hiding within the compound during that attack. The U.N. noted that around 6,000 displaced individuals were taking refuge at the site.
Ceasefire Talks Stagnate Amid Continued Hostilities
As the conflict rages on, Israel’s military continues to attribute the high civilian death toll to Hamas’s alleged use of densely populated areas for operations, including schools and hospitals. Conversely, U.N. and humanitarian officials accuse Israel of employing disproportionate force, a claim Israel denies.
On Friday, Hamas announced that its militants had targeted an Israeli troop position in the central city of Deir al-Balah, resulting in casualties. They reported seeing helicopters evacuate the injured Israeli soldiers.
Israel’s military operations in central Gaza persist, with the latest update indicating the killing of “dozens” of militants and the destruction of militant infrastructure in the al-Bureij refugee camp and nearby Deir al-Balah.
The war, initiated by a surprise Hamas assault on October 7, has seen extensive destruction across Gaza, with Israel vowing no peace until Hamas is eradicated. Despite severe losses, Hamas fighters continue to reemerge in areas previously cleared by Israeli forces.
Gaza’s health ministry reported that since the conflict began, over 36,731 people have been killed, including 77 in the past 24 hours. With much of the 2.3 million population displaced, many more are believed to be buried under the rubble.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire have repeatedly failed since a brief truce in November. Hamas demands a permanent cessation of the conflict and complete Israeli withdrawal, while Israel is only willing to consider temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas is dismantled and Gaza is no longer a security threat.
The latest round of indirect negotiations began on Wednesday when CIA Director William Burns met with senior officials from Qatar and Egypt in Doha to discuss a three-phase plan endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
