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Israeli forces entered the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Tuesday, marking their first ground operation in the densely populated southern Gaza city. Their objective was to eliminate the remaining Hamas presence, leading to tensions with Egypt.
According to an Israel Defense Forces official, infantry troops and an armored battalion gained control of the Palestinian side of the crossing, killing 20 militants and uncovering three tunnel shafts. This operation, described as targeted, was ongoing as of Tuesday morning.
However, this move strained Israeli-Egyptian relations, with Egypt condemning the operation as a violation of their four-decade-old peace treaty. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry denounced the incursion, calling it a dangerous escalation that jeopardized ceasefire efforts and endangered the lives of Palestinians who rely on the crossing for aid and medical treatment.
Both the Rafah crossing and Kerem Shalom, the main aid entry points in the south, were closed due to the conflict. Photos and videos showed Israeli flags raised on the Palestinian side of the crossing, indicating Israeli control.
This operation followed Israel's distribution of leaflets instructing residents to evacuate parts of the city, a move criticized by the United States, which urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties.
Despite international concerns, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of controlling the border region to eliminate Hamas, which Israel claims has six battalions in Gaza, with four located in Rafah.
While aid organizations expressed concerns about the humanitarian impact of the crossing's closure, Israel stated it was closed for security reasons and aims to reopen it for aid delivery.