Israeli military operations in southern Gaza have escalated significantly, with troops encircling entire districts and ordering mass evacuations. The renewed offensive comes as Israel resumes air and ground attacks, accusing Hamas of refusing to agree to new ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with reports indicating that over 50,000 people have died since the conflict began on October 7.
Fierce Fighting in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan District
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Sunday that its troops have fully encircled Tel al-Sultan, a district west of Rafah that has seen repeated military operations over the past year. The IDF says the latest push aims to "reinforce control and expand the security zone in southern Gaza."
"During the night, the troops encircled the area, eliminated several terrorists, and conducted a targeted raid on a Hamas command and control center that had been in use for months," the IDF said in an official statement.
Before launching the offensive, the IDF issued warnings to civilians in the area, urging them to evacuate immediately and move north toward the Mawasi region. However, they were not allowed to use vehicles, forcing thousands to flee on foot under intense gunfire. According to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, many of those displaced had already been forced from their homes earlier in the conflict, adding another layer of suffering to their ordeal.
Humanitarian Concerns Grow as Civilians Are Trapped
Gaza’s Civil Defense has warned of a "grave and imminent danger" to more than 50,000 civilians in the Al-Baraksat area, who are now besieged by Israeli forces. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that four of its ambulances had been surrounded while responding to an Israeli strike in Rafah. Additionally, contact was lost with a civil defense crew attempting to rescue an ambulance crew in the same area.
Meanwhile, Hamas-affiliated media reported that three individuals were killed when an Israeli strike hit a municipal vehicle in Khan Younis. Among the casualties was Salah al-Bardawil, a key member of Hamas’s political bureau, who was killed alongside his wife in an attack on tents sheltering displaced people.
Israel Blocks Aid, Pushing Hamas for Hostage Release
In an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting new ceasefire terms and releasing hostages, Israel has completely blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. This includes food, water, medicine, and fuel, creating a dire situation for civilians. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that no aid has entered Gaza in three weeks—an even longer siege than during the initial phase of the war.
"Every day without food inches Gaza closer to an acute hunger crisis," UNRWA warned in a social media post on Sunday.
Northern Gaza Also Under Siege
While much of the world’s attention is focused on Rafah, the Israeli military has also intensified ground operations in northern Gaza. On Saturday, the IDF announced that its forces were actively targeting Hamas infrastructure in the Beit Hanoun area to "expand the security zone." Fighter jets carried out multiple airstrikes on Hamas targets, further tightening Israel’s hold in the region.
Death Toll Reaches Staggering 50,000
Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday that 41 more deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, pushing the total death toll in Gaza past 50,000.
"As of today, 50,021 people have been killed in Gaza since the October 7 attacks," the ministry reported in its latest update, highlighting the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict.
With no clear path to peace and both sides standing firm, the situation in Gaza remains volatile. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, and the international community watches anxiously as the war shows no signs of ending.
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