Updated 01.50 | Published 01.12
unsaveSave
expand-left
full screen One of the tent camps in Rafah. Picture from last Friday. Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP/TT
Israel’s military (IDF) says its operations against Rafah in southern Gaza continue on a “limited scale”.
“Our operations against Hamas in Rafah are still limited in scope,” spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement Sunday night.
He adds that the IDF eliminated dozens of terrorists, found tunnels and weapons.
The border crossing to Rafah – from Egypt – was closed by Israel earlier this week. Since then, the flow of supplies to the densely populated city has reportedly decreased sharply and the UN has warned of food and fuel shortages.
According to Hagari’s statement, work is underway to enable a flow of emergency aid to Rafah.
The border town has for months been the target of Palestinians fleeing Israel’s bombardment in other parts of Gaza. The UN recently estimated that 1.4 million people were crammed there, many hungry and injured, living in simple tents.
On Saturday, information came that Israel’s military ordered new evacuations from eastern Rafah, ahead of expected military operations.
The IDF said on Saturday that 300,000 people had taken refuge in the already overcrowded area of al-Mawasi, which Israel claims is a “safe zone”.