A tank manoeuvres near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Israel, May 27, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
Israeli tanks shelled a tent camp in an evacuation area west of Rafah on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 individuals, according to Gaza health authorities. This incident occurred as Israeli forces advanced to the center of the southern Gaza city for the first time, following a night of intense bombardment.
Two days after an Israeli airstrike on another camp provoked global condemnation, Gaza emergency services reported that four tank shells struck a cluster of tents in Al-Mawasi, a coastal strip where Israel had advised Rafah civilians to seek safety. Medical officials in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave stated that at least 12 of the deceased were women. An Israeli military spokesperson commented, “As of this time, we are not aware of this incident.”
Witnesses in central Rafah reported seeing tanks and armored vehicles with machine guns near Al-Awda mosque, a prominent city landmark. The Israeli military confirmed ongoing operations in the Rafah area but did not provide specifics regarding the reported advances into the city center.
International concern over Israel’s three-week-old Rafah offensive has intensified, particularly after an attack on Sunday that caused a fire in a tent camp in a western district of the city, killing at least 45 people. Israel stated that the target was two senior Hamas operatives and that civilian casualties were not intended. Global leaders expressed horror at the attack in the designated “humanitarian zone” of Rafah, where displaced families had taken shelter, and called for the implementation of a recent World Court order to halt Israel’s assault.
The Israeli military later indicated that it was investigating whether munitions stored near a compound targeted by Sunday’s airstrike might have ignited, causing the blaze.
Tuesday’s shelling in Al-Mawasi occurred within an expanded humanitarian zone designated by Israel, where civilians from Rafah were directed to move for safety when the incursion began in early May.
In a diplomatic effort to curb the violence, Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, further isolating Israel internationally. The three nations expressed hope that their decision would expedite efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has been ongoing for eight months and has devastated much of the densely populated area.
Residents reported ongoing bombardment in Rafah’s Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood, where the tents and shelters were set ablaze on Sunday night. A local resident, communicating via a chat application, described widespread tank shelling and the resultant displacement of many families in western Rafah.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on Tuesday that approximately one million people had fled the Israeli offensive in Rafah since early May, many of whom had been repeatedly displaced by the conflict.
A video obtained by Reuters depicted families relocating once more, carrying their belongings through the ravaged streets of Rafah, with children trailing behind. “There are a lot of attacks, smoke and dust. It is death from God… The [Israelis] are hitting everywhere. We’re tired,” said Moayad Fusaifas, who was transporting belongings on two bicycles.
Egypt, in collaboration with Qatar and the United States, is attempting to revive ceasefire negotiations and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. However, these efforts have been impeded by Israel’s continued assault on Rafah, according to Cairo’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV channel, which cited a senior official.
Since Israel seized control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt three weeks ago, tanks had maneuvered around the city’s outskirts and entered some eastern districts but had not yet launched a full-scale incursion into the city. Recently, Israeli tanks have advanced towards western neighborhoods and established positions on the Zurub hilltop in western Rafah. On Tuesday, witnesses reported gun battles between Israeli forces and Hamas-led fighters in the Zurub area.
In central Rafah, witnesses noted the presence of remote-operated armored vehicles with no immediate signs of personnel nearby. The Israeli military spokesperson did not comment on this.
The Israeli military reported overnight operations along the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt, involving close-quarter combat and the discovery of tunnel shafts, weapons, and militant infrastructure.
Despite the International Court of Justice’s ruling on May 24 ordering Israel to cease its operations due to the high risk of civilian casualties, Israel has continued its attacks, arguing that the court’s decision allows for some military action. The ICJ also reiterated calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive. The conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
Israel’s stated objective is to eliminate the remaining major formations of Hamas fighters in Rafah and to rescue the hostages believed to be held in the area.
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