Israel Bombards Rafah; Clashes Continue in Khan Younis

Israel, in multiple airstrikes, has flattened a mosque in Rafah and destroyed several homes. According to Reuters, residents of Rafah described these nighttime attacks as one of their worst nights during the Israeli operations. Meanwhile, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, is in Cairo for discussions regarding a ceasefire. The people of Rafah hope to secure a timely ceasefire to prevent a full-scale Israeli assault on the city near the Egyptian border. More than half of the 2.3 million Palestinians, many of whom are gathered in tents, are in Rafah. Israel has threatened to launch a comprehensive attack on this city, which it calls the last stronghold of Hamas. Health officials in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, reported that in the past 24 hours of Israeli attacks, 97 people were killed and 130 injured, but most victims are still trapped under rubble or in areas inaccessible to rescuers. In northern Rafah, fierce clashes continue in Khan Younis. Gaza officials stated that at least 20 people were also killed following the bombing of two houses in central Gaza Strip. This is the only other significant area that has not yet faced a full-scale Israeli assault. Israel began its operations in Gaza after Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli cities on October 6, killing over 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages. According to Gaza health officials, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, with fears that the bodies of thousands more may be buried under the rubble. Despite international calls for restraint, including from Israel's main ally, Washington, Israel has threatened to carry out a full-scale attack on Rafah. Heads of UN humanitarian agencies have also issued a letter calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, warning that further escalation in Rafah would lead to widespread casualties. In a separate incident, two Palestinians shot at vehicles, injuring 8 Israelis; another shooting by three Palestinians left one dead and 11 injured.