Hamas announced today that a 70-year-old Israeli prisoner of war has died after suffering wounds from Israeli shelling, according to Reuters. This comes amid reports that over 130 Israelis are currently being held in Gaza.
Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire yesterday, aimed at ending Israel’s intense bombing campaign in Gaza and facilitating the release of the Israeli hostages. Despite this, Israel’s war cabinet decided to proceed with a ground offensive in Rafah.
Following the decision, Israeli tanks entered the Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s only border with the external world, seizing control and hoisting Israeli flags. Reports from locals indicate that border officials have been detained.
In a recent development, approximately 100,000 Palestinian civilians in eastern Rafah were instructed to evacuate in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion of the area.
