Several Israeli tanks reportedly reached the center of Rafah near the landmark al-Awda Mosque on Tuesday, marking an expansion of the Israeli military's operation in the southern Gaza city.
The development was reported by Reuters, citing eyewitnesses, though the Israeli military has not yet confirmed it.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave reported Tuesday that 21 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in displacement tents in west Rafah. Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in reaction he had no information on reports of a deadly strike today on an area of tents housing displaced people west of Rafah, stating, “I’m not aware of this incident. We will look into it.”
The IDF continued to operate in eastern Rafah overnight Monday and into Tuesday. According to the IDF, soldiers of the 401 and Nahal Brigades operated along the Philadelphi Corridor near the border with Egypt, in an operation aimed largely at locating and destroying tunnels used for smuggling and launching attacks. The IDF also said that the Infantry School brigade joined the forces fighting in Rafah.
