Gaza: In a tragic development, an Israeli Air Force operation targeted a building in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of seven lives. The strike, occurring in the early hours of Wednesday morning, has ignited concerns due to the significant civilian population residing in the area, estimated at approximately 1.3 million people.
Reports from Israeli media indicate that despite calls from the United States and other allies urging restraint, the strike proceeded as planned. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, during discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasized the importance of preventing Israeli attacks on Rafah, expressing concerns over potential refugee displacement into Egypt’s Sinai region, which shares a border with Rafah.
The backdrop of escalating tensions stems from previous conflicts, notably the ground invasion by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) into Gaza on October 27, 2023, following a Hamas attack on October 7 of the same year. The toll of this prolonged conflict has been devastating, with over 33,000 Palestinian casualties reported since the outset of hostilities.
