The Israeli army said today, Tuesday, that it has fully controlled the Palestinian side of the Rafah land crossing, which separates Gaza Strip from Egyptian territories, in a military operation it began yesterday. Correspondents from “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” reported that Israeli military vehicles entered the Philadelphia Axis for the first time since 2005, following Hamas’ announcement of its approval of a long-term ceasefire proposal in its war with Israel.
Thick smoke columns also rose in an area near the Rafah land crossing between Gaza and Egypt as Israel intensified artillery shelling on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses reported that the shelling occurred in the vicinity of the project area near the crossing, as tanks advanced into the Rafah land crossing, preventing aid from reaching and halting the movement of passengers.
These rapid military developments on the ground come hours before new talks are supposed to be held in Cairo to attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement, with representatives from the intermediary countries, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, in addition to delegations from Israel and Hamas participating.
The Israeli army said in a statement that the operation aims to eliminate Hamas militants and dismantle the infrastructure of the Palestinian movement in specific areas east of Rafah. The Israeli army said, “At present, we have special forces sweeping the crossing… We have control over the area and other crossings, and we have special forces sweeping the area.” It clarified, “We are only talking about the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing.”
It added that the forces are operating in a specific area in eastern Rafah, with the vast majority of residents in the military operations zone evacuated. The Israeli army also confirmed that the Kerem Shalom crossing is closed for security reasons and will be reopened when the security situation allows.
The Israeli broadcasting authority reported that the Israeli army killed 20 militants and found three tunnels in the controlled area, and a car bomb heading towards a tank was destroyed. According to the authority, the Israeli army closed the Rafah crossing and prevented its operation, coinciding with the army attacking what it said were Hamas targets in Rafah city.
Yesterday, Monday, the Israeli army called on residents in areas east of Rafah to evacuate to Khan Yunis before the start of its military operation and warned the displaced not to return to the north or approach the eastern and southern security fence or to move northward from the Gaza Valley, emphasizing that Gaza City remains a “dangerous combat zone.”
Israeli Army Statement
The Israeli army said its forces had taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt in southern Gaza.
“The 401st Brigade achieved operational control of the Rafah crossing from the Gaza side… The forces have cut off the Rafah crossing from the Salah al-Din axis, and now the 401st Armored Brigade forces fully control the crossing. At the same time, the Givati Brigade controls the crossing and the Salah al-Din axis from the Dahaniya range,” the Israeli army statement said.
The statement added, “Tonight’s attack on Rafah, led by the 162nd Division with the 401st Brigade and the Givati Brigade and special units, launched an attack on the eastern area of Rafah. Simultaneously, the Southern Command attacked dozens of Hamas targets in the Rafah area, attacking about 100 targets during the night.”
Raising the Israeli Flag
Before that, the Gaza Crossings Authority said that the Israeli army had stormed the Rafah crossing, and pictures were circulated of raising the Israeli flag on the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Shortly before that, Palestinian media quoted the Gaza Crossings Authority announcing the suspension of passenger movement. A spokesperson for the Gaza Crossings Authority said that the reason for closing the Rafah crossing was the presence of Israeli tanks inside the crossing.
Three humanitarian relief sources told Reuters that aid passage through the crossing was disrupted.
Two informed sources told Axios yesterday, Monday, that the Israeli army intends to take control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
The site quoted a source as saying that Israel believes that controlling the land crossing with Egypt will end Hamas’ ability to show that it still manages the Gaza Strip.
This comes as Al Arabiya and Al Hadath correspondent reported that Israeli tanks had infiltrated areas east of Rafah and approached the crossing, with intense gunfire and fierce clashes east of Rafah.
Meanwhile, Egyptian media published pictures of the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side, where sounds of clashes were heard inside the sector.
