Israel launched a military operation against Rafah.

According to preliminary data from Arab and Palestinian press sources, at least 20 Palestinians lost their lives in the attacks of the Israeli Army in Rafah, which lasted until the morning. The Israeli army took control of the vital Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday after a night of airstrikes. Hamas said on Monday it had accepted mediators’ offer of a ceasefire, seven months after the Israeli war. Palestinian health officials said that 20 Palestinians were killed and many others were injured in attacks by Israeli tanks and planes that hit many areas and at least four houses in Rafah overnight.

“The Israeli occupation condemned the residents of the Gaza Strip to death after the closure of the Rafah border gate,” said Hisham Edwan, spokesman for the Gaza Border Crossing Authority.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the attack on Rafah must be carried out to complete the elimination of the Hamas militia. Israel’s Western allies have advised against such an attack, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other UN officials have warned of the devastating consequences of a major attack on Rafah – the deaths of thousands of civilians. For example, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell warned of “catastrophic risks” for the city’s 600,000 refugee children.

“Many children have been displaced multiple times and lost their homes, parents and loved ones. They need the protection and services they need, including medical facilities and shelter,” she said. UNICEF explained that many of these children are injured, sick, malnourished, traumatized or disabled and living on the brink of survival, so they cannot travel to other parts of Gaza due to the violence and potential corridors may be mined or filled with unexploded ordnance. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reminded that “there is an obligation to protect civilians in war and to allow civilians to go to safer areas.” “But they must have a safe route and place to go, as well as enough time to leave.”