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Officials say the deadly airstrike in Rafah while tragic did not cross Bidens red line
Israel’s military said it was engaging in close-quarters combat in the area
Dozens dead after Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza camp for the displaced
Officials say the deadly airstrike in Rafah while tragic did not cross Bidens red line
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli tanks advanced to the edge of a crowded district in the heart of Rafah on Wednesday during one of the most intense days of fighting in the Gaza Strip since Israel launched an offensive there on July 8.
The Israeli military said it was fighting in neighborhoods near the heart of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, apparently in an attempt to destroy tunnels used for smuggling weapons from Egypt and to prevent militants from firing rockets across the border.
"It's very difficult fighting in an area that is so densely populated," said a spokesman for the Israeli military. "We are doing everything we can to avoid civilian casualties."
Palestinian officials said dozens of people were killed in the Israeli airstrikes and shelling, including at least 17 children. The United Nations said that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, most of them civilians.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the reports of civilian casualties.
The fighting in Rafah is part of a broader Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip that has been met with international condemnation. The United States has called for a ceasefire, but Israel has said it will continue its offensive until it has achieved its objectives.
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