On Friday, Israeli forces blasted Rafah in southern Gaza, as well as other sites throughout the enclave, killing at least 45 Palestinians as troops engaged in close-quarters fighting with Hamas group operatives, the Israeli military reported.
Residents reported that the Israelis appeared to be attempting to complete their control of Rafah, which borders Egypt and has been the target of an Israeli attack since early May.
Tanks were pushing their way into the western and northern areas of the city, having previously taken the east, south, and centre.
Firing from planes, tanks, and ships along the coast prompted more residents to abandon the city, which had previously housed over a million displaced persons, the majority of whom have already relocated.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 25 Palestinians were killed and 50 wounded in Mawasi, western Rafah.
The Israeli military stated that the incident was under investigation.
“An initial inquiry conducted suggests that there is no indication that a strike was carried out by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) in the Humanitarian Area in Al-Mawasi”, it explained.
Earlier, the military stated that its forces were conducting precise, intelligence-based operations in the Rafah area, where troops were engaged in close-quarters battle and had discovered Hamas tunnels.
The military said troops attacked a university that acted as a Hamas headquarters throughout the last week when Hamas members fired on soldiers and weapons and barrel bombs were discovered. It did not name the university.
The military said forces killed dozens of operatives in Nusseirat, central Gaza, over the last week and discovered a weapons store with Hamas mortar bombs and military equipment.
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