Israel kills two in Gaza as Palestinians call for Rafah crossing to open

Despite a United States-brokered ceasefire, Israel bombed a tent housing Palestinians, killing a five-year-old girl and her uncle, according to officials, and launched intense artillery and helicopter attacks on southern Gaza.

At least 422 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the truce’s enactment in October as a result of the killings on Monday, according to Gaza health authorities.

Four others, including children, were also hurt, according to the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Khan Younis, who claimed the deadly Israeli attack had struck a tent in the coastal al-Mawasi region.

Israel’s military claimed that “immediate action” was taken against a Hamas fighter who planned to attack Israeli forces. However, it was unclear whether the military’s statement made reference to the tent attack and provided any supporting documentation for the claim.

Israeli forces continue to attack Gaza almost daily in spite of the ceasefire and have tightened restrictions on humanitarian aid entry. According to Palestinian officials, the enclave has been severely damaged or destroyed by Israel’s genocidal war, with roughly 88 percent of the buildings destroyed or damaged.

The majority of Gaza’s two million residents now reside in abandoned buildings, tents, or makeshift shelters in areas occupied by Israeli forces.

A 29-year-old father and his 8-year-old son were killed when another Palestinian home damaged in earlier Israeli strikes collapsed in the central Maghazi camp, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense on Monday.

However, the rescue service later claimed that due to a lack of equipment and persistent fuel shortages, it was unable to respond to requests to remove hazards from damaged buildings.

More than 71, 000 people died in the Israeli attacks in Gaza, which were finally resolved after more than two years of negotiations. The first phase includes the reopening of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt, increased humanitarian aid, and captive and captive exchanges.

Israel has released nearly 2, 000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners, some of whom are serving life sentences, while Hamas has released all of the remaining living prisoners and returned dozens of bodies, with the exception of one.

Hopes for crossing Rafah

However, humanitarian organizations claim that Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt is still closed while Israeli restrictions continue to prevent aid deliveries. Prior to the Israeli military’s occupation of the Palestinian side in May 2024, Gaza’s only known source of communication with the outside world was the crossing.

Following pressure from US President Donald Trump, Israeli authorities are reportedly planning to reopen the crossing in “both directions.” According to an Israeli broadcaster, the crossing is being monitored by Israel’s Kan.

If confirmed, it would change Israeli policy that stated the crossing would only be accessible “exclusively for the Gaza Strip’s residents’ exits to Egypt.” Regional governments, including Egypt and Qatar, condemned the policy, and officials warned against Gaza’s ethnic cleansing.

Many Palestinians are hopeful now that the most recent Israeli report has been released.

Tasnim Jaras, a student in Gaza City, claimed it was her “dream that the crossing opens so we can continue our education.”

In the war, Moaeen al-Jarousha, who was wounded, claimed he needed to leave Gaza to go abroad for medical care. I require immediate medical care. He claimed that his life is “very difficult”.

Hani Mahmoud, a journalist for Al Jazeera from Gaza City, claimed that Palestinians in Gaza have been anticipating the crossing’s opening for a while.

This is not about travel; rather, for many, it’s about survival. Parents are enquiring about medical care that has been unavailable for the past two years. He said that students see this as an opportunity to advance their education.

“And for many families, this is a chance to reunite with separated family members.” However, there is never simple hope here. Many people in this community recall how quickly these announcements came to an end, he continued.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to control 53% of Gaza, and witnesses reported on Monday that residential areas in Gaza’s east Zeitoun neighborhood were still being destroyed.

In southern Gaza on Monday, the Israeli military claimed to have attacked a Palestinian who had “crossed the yellow line,” an unmarked area where the Israeli military positioned itself when the truce came into effect. The intention was to “defend the threat.” It did not support the claim’s supporting evidence.

Source: Aljazeera