Israeli Airstrikes on Rafah; Over 30 Killed

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's order on Saturday morning, February 10, for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians from the city of Rafah, 31 Palestinians were killed in this southern city of the Gaza Strip due to Israeli airstrikes. According to the Associated Press, despite asking residents of Khan Younis to take shelter in Rafah, Israel has targeted this city with airstrikes almost daily in recent weeks. The Associated Press reported, citing health officials in Gaza controlled by Hamas and its own journalists, that three Israeli airstrikes early Saturday resulted in the deaths of 28 Palestinian civilians. The deceased were members of three families, including 10 children. In another airstrike, three Hamas 'police' officers were also killed. Doctors Without Borders reported that at least two Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers and five others were injured at the 'Nasser' hospital in Khan Younis. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health announced that approximately 28,000 people have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks, two-thirds of whom are women and children. Israel has repeatedly emphasized that Hamas uses civilians as human shields and employs civilian buildings such as hospitals and schools for military operations. During Hamas's terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 1,200 people, including children, women, and the elderly, were killed, and over 240 others were taken hostage. Reports indicate that 130 hostages are in Gaza, but according to Israeli estimates, about 100 of them are likely still alive. In the only ceasefire that lasted a week in November, 110 hostages were released in Gaza, and Israel also released 240 Palestinian prisoners. The United States, Britain, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. The continuous increase in Palestinian casualties due to Israel's invasion of Gaza has caused a disagreement between Netanyahu's government and the Biden administration. American officials say Israel should conduct precise attacks against Hamas leadership and members. President Joe Biden stated on Thursday, February 7, that Israel's response to Hamas has been 'excessive.' Meanwhile, Netanyahu's office announced on Friday that achieving the goal of destroying Hamas while ignoring the four remaining battalions of this group in Rafah is impossible. Israel claims Rafah is the last remaining base of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu stated that he has ordered Israeli military and security forces to facilitate the mass evacuation of civilians from Rafah and to destroy Hamas forces in this city through a combined plan. The Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that the war will continue until 'complete victory' and the destruction of Hamas. On the other hand, Egypt warned that any mass movement of Palestinians from Gaza into its territory would pose a serious threat to the more than four-decade peace between Egypt and Israel. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 240 hostages, Israel began its invasion of Gaza with the aim of destroying this Iran-backed militant group. According to aid organizations, nearly 80% of the 2.3 million population of Gaza have been displaced from their homes due to the Israeli invasion, and acute shortages of food and healthcare services have plunged this densely populated strip into a humanitarian crisis. Hezbollah's rocket fire towards Israel coincided with the arrival of the Iranian Foreign Minister in Lebanon. Israel intensified its bombardment of Rafah amid ongoing international efforts to establish a ceasefire. The UN Secretary-General expressed concern over the expansion of Israeli operations in Rafah in southern Gaza. A Hamas spokesperson announced the group's delegation's visit to Egypt to pursue a three-phase ceasefire plan. Speculations about a potential 'deal' for the release of hostages continue; Israel and the U.S. are reviewing Hamas's response. Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal: the release of hostages in exchange for ending the conflict in Gaza. Saudi Arabia's official position: relations with Israel are off the table without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Iranian representative at the UN confirmed the arming and equipping of Palestinian groups but rejected the sending of weapons to the Houthis. New documents reveal that Israel has uncovered substantial financial assistance from the Islamic Republic to Hamas. Active U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East; receiving Hamas's response and increasing hopes for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. A new Israeli estimate: 32 of the 136 remaining hostages in Gaza have died. Complete sanctions on UNRWA; the U.S. State Department is seeking a replacement organization to send aid to Gaza. Blinken and the Saudi Crown Prince discussed 'regional coordination' to end the war in Gaza. A representative of UNRWA stated that 19 donors have suspended their financial assistance to this agency.