(VOVWORLD) - The Israeli military seized control of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Tuesday and its tanks pushed into the southern Gazan town of Rafah after a night of air strikes on the Palestinian enclave.
 Houses damaged in an Israeli strike are seen, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 7, 2024. (Photo:REUTERS) |
The Israeli offensive took place as mediators struggled to secure a ceasefire agreement between Israel and its Hamas foes and as the conflict entered its 8th month. The Palestinian militant group said on Monday it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal but Israel said the terms did not meet its demands.
Amid international concern over the plight of civilians crammed into Rafah, Israeli tanks and planes attacked several areas and houses there overnight.
The conflict began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 34,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been now killed in the conflict, the Gaza Health Ministry said.