Over 100 killed in Israeli bombardment on Rafah despite Egypt's warnings
The health ministry of the Hamas-controlled area confirms that the airstrikes took place in the densely populated Rafah district, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Israel disregarded warnings: intense bombings at midnight
Hamas warned Israel on Sunday that a ground offensive in Rafah could jeopardize future hostage releases.
On Monday morning, the Israeli army announced that its "series of attacks" on southern Gaza were now "completed". Among the targeted locations was the "Shabura region," a district of Rafah.
Shortly after the attack, Israeli forces reported that the Israeli army and security forces had freed two Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during an assault on Israel on October 7 of the preceding year. "The hostages were released in Rafah as a result of an operation executed on Sunday night" - the report read.
The released hostages were identified as Fernando Simon Marman, aged 60, and Louis Hara, aged 70.
On Sunday, Egypt warned of the "dreadful consequences" that could arise from a potential Israeli military attack on Rafah, which is located close to its border.
The Cairo Ministry's statement was released a few hours after Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of Israeli forces (IDF), confirmed that IDF had approved operational plans for an offensive in Rafah.
Simultaneously, the Associated Press reported that, "two Egyptian officials and a western diplomat mentioned that Cairo threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops were deployed to the city".
Rafah stood as the Palestinians' final sanctuary
Rafah serves as the last refuge for Palestinians displaced by Israeli forces from the northern Gaza Strip. The city, spread over about 150 square kilometres (rounded), shelters over 1.4 million people.
"Despite the fact that Israeli ground forces have not yet penetrated Rafah, Palestinians taking cover there have been consistent victims of air attacks, with reports suggesting an average daily mortality of 100 people." - as per Al Jazeera.
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden conducted a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Joe Biden stated that "military operation in Rafah should not continue without a credible and feasible plan ensuring the security and support for over a million people".
"They have nowhere else to go"
On Sunday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed concern over reports of a forthcoming Israeli offensive on Rafah, terming them as "extremely worrying".
"Persisting with the plans could have severe, destructive implications for 1.4 million people who have nowhere else to go and barely any access to healthcare" - he wrote on X site.
The Hamas-led health ministry of the Palestinian territory reported on Sunday that 28,176 Palestinians have been killed and 67,784 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli air strikes since the conflict began.
