Attack on Residential Tower Housing Hamas Military Assets; Residents: Israel Asked Us to Evacuate Half an Hour Earlier

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it targeted a residential tower in Rafah, the last base of the Iran-backed Hamas group in the Gaza Strip, which was hiding 'Hamas military assets.' According to the army's statement, 'terrorist actions against our forces and civilians at home were planned from this residential tower.' The Times of Israel reported, citing a military source, that Hamas's 'Emergency Committee' was using this residential building. Reuters reported, quoting residents of the 12-story building located 500 meters from the border with Egypt, that no one was injured in the attack. One of the 300 residents told Reuters that Israel had asked them to evacuate half an hour before the attack. A Palestinian Authority official in Rafah expressed concern that this attack might be a sign of an imminent Israeli invasion of the city. Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, stated, 'This ruthless war has destroyed any sense of shared humanity.' She called for an end to the fighting to allow for 'meaningful' aid distribution, unconditional release of hostages by Hamas, and 'humane' treatment of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The attack on Saturday comes as negotiations for the release of 134 hostages taken by Hamas have yet to yield results. A Hamas official told Reuters that it is 'unlikely' that the group's delegation will return to Cairo for negotiations at this time. Hamas claims that Israel is responsible for the lack of progress in the talks. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that in the past 24 hours, they had killed 30 Palestinian militants in Khan Younis in central Gaza and Beit Hanoun in the north of the densely populated strip, and arrested several others while seizing their weapons. Health officials in Gaza reported that 82 Palestinians in Gaza were killed in the past 24 hours. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Iran-backed Islamist group. Since then, Hamas officials have repeatedly emphasized that they would carry out such attacks again if able. Hamas, without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, claims that over 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed so far. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the figures provided by Hamas. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. A ship carrying aid to Gaza is ready to move towards the Cyprus corridor. Canada has lifted the suspension of funding for UNRWA and will resume financial aid to this agency. Senior U.S. officials have discussed sexual violence by Hamas forces with a UN representative. Blinken stated that the 'ball is in Hamas's court' regarding establishing a ceasefire in Gaza. The UN Human Rights Office stated that Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas constitute 'war crimes.' Israel welcomed the establishment of a maritime aid corridor to Gaza. Hamas left ceasefire negotiations; Israel stated that Hamas is obstructing. Biden will announce the construction of a port for aid to Gaza in the 'State of the Union' address.