Israeli forces carried out strikes and clashed with Hamas fighters in various parts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Aid groups cautioned that military operations in the area and closures of border crossings were jeopardizing humanitarian efforts across the territory, where over two million people are stranded. Israeli authorities announced the reopening of one of the two key border crossings for aid delivery into southern Gaza, while the second critical gateway remained closed, hindering the flow of food and essential fuel into the enclave.
The Israeli military described its actions in Rafah as a "precise counterterrorism operation," utilizing airstrikes and ground troops to target fighters and underground infrastructure. Hamas's armed wing reported that its fighters were involved in intense clashes with Israeli forces on the city's eastern side, launching mortars from concealed positions.
Palestinian health authorities stated on Wednesday morning that at least 35 Palestinians had been killed by airstrikes in Rafah over the past 24 hours, with 129 others injured and dozens suspected to be trapped under rubble. The Israeli military claimed to have killed over 20 militants since entering Rafah.
Concurrently, efforts to negotiate a cease-fire were ongoing, with Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns expected to meet with Israeli officials after participating in talks in Cairo involving Israeli and Hamas representatives, as well as mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
Hamas had announced an agreement to a cease-fire involving an exchange of hostages abducted on Oct. 7 for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. However, the group attached conditions not approved by Israel, including a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade. Hamas has since proposed amendments to the deal, and negotiations have intensified.
Cogat, the Israeli body overseeing aid flow into Gaza, stated that the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza had reopened, with trucks from Egypt arriving for inspection. The crossing had been closed after Hamas fired mortars and rockets near the area, killing four Israeli soldiers. However, as of midday Wednesday, no goods had passed through the crossing.
The other main crossing into southern Gaza, at Rafah, remained closed. Israel took control of the Gaza side of that crossing with Egypt in preparation for a broader campaign in Rafah city, following airstrikes and evacuation warnings to civilians in the eastern part of Rafah
The Biden administration cautioned against a broader push into Rafah without a plan to protect civilians, warning that such an operation could endanger over half of Gaza's population, who have sought refuge in Rafah since the conflict began seven months ago. Additionally, it could worsen the humanitarian crisis, with aid groups already warning of potential famine and a severe fuel shortage needed to power generators and operate vehicles for transport.
Israel directed around 100,000 people in southeastern Rafah to evacuate to northern and western areas. However, many struggle to find accommodation outside Rafah, with some heading to Khan Younis, heavily damaged in Israel's previous invasion, or Al-Mawasi, a beach area northwest of Rafah with a large displaced population.
Aid groups expressed concerns that Israel's evacuation orders didn't guarantee people's safety or their ability to return after the conflict, as required by international humanitarian law. Israeli leaders defended their actions, stating they had taken measures to protect civilians, including advising them to leave battle zones, in compliance with international laws of war.
The Israeli military expanded the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi and set up field hospitals and tents, as well as provided food, water, and medication in anticipation of new arrivals from Rafah.
In response to Israel's operations in Rafah, the Biden administration announced a pause in a shipment of weapons to Israel and urged Israel to do more to facilitate aid flow into Gaza. Over 34,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the start of the Gaza conflict, according to Palestinian authorities. The U.N. warned that cutting off main aid arteries was endangering humanitarian operations in Gaza, particularly the limited fuel supplies.
Israel recently reopened the Erez crossing at the northern end of Gaza, but operations there have yet to scale up. The U.S. military completed construction of a temporary floating pier to deliver aid to northern Gaza, but inclement weather has delayed its deployment.
Abeer Ayyoub, Fatima AbdulKarim, Carrie Keller-Lynn, and Nancy Youssef contributed to this article.