Israeli forces have killed at least seven people, including children, in Rafah in the latest deadly attack on Palestinians struggling to survive in the southern Gaza Strip's largest city.
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in the Shahin family home to displaced Abu Hamra and Abu Sultan families, Palestinian state news agency Wafa reported.
According to Rafah's Al Jazeera team, the airstrike hit a busy road leading to the market, causing extensive destruction to buildings and vehicles. The roads were littered with bodies, and the victims included women, children, and the elderly.
“My mother… my father… they ran for their lives from Khan Younis,” the man told Al Jazeera. “I brought them here to take shelter in my home… They escaped death in Khan Yunis and died in my hands… I am not sure how to live after them. Can you do it?
He turned to the Israeli army and said, “Kill me so I can join them.”
Another man told Al Jazeera that he and his friends were walking to Al Awda Hospital when a “massive explosion” suddenly occurred.
“I was thrown into the air and I saw everyone around me flying around and other people being torn to pieces,” he said. “When I passed out and woke up, I was here in the hospital. Israeli warplanes had fired missiles at residential buildings in a very crowded area. Hundreds of people were walking through the streets, holding food in their hands. I'm trying to put it in.”
“Israeli occupation forces have no mercy. They have no mercy for young or old, for women or babies,” he added. “Israelis do not respect any laws or human rights. They have lost their humanity. They target innocent displaced civilians. They kill everyone, including women and children, in revenge.”
“The missile landed up to 20 meters away.” [66 feet] I miraculously survived by the grace of God. ”
Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Rafah, said the victims were taken to Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.
“The area shook as if an earthquake had occurred. There was complete destruction and fire everywhere,” he said.
“Cars were burned and people on the sidewalk were seriously injured. The victims were also pulled out from under the rubble of the building.
“Seven people were reported killed, five of whom have been identified. Two of the bodies were incinerated and cannot be identified.”
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have carried out eight “genocides against families” in the Gaza Strip, killing 92 people in the past 24 hours.
The ministry added that Israeli forces had stopped ambulances and civil defense forces from reaching victims buried under rubble or lying on the road.
Since the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, Israel has shelled the Gaza Strip, killing more than 29,600 Palestinians and causing mass destruction and shortages of essential goods. Nearly 70,000 people were injured in the besieged enclave.
Around 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.
Severe food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels across the Gaza Strip, with increasing reports of families struggling to feed their children, and starvation-related risks in the northern part of the strip, according to the United Nations. It is said to be increasing.
According to the World Food Program, “The risk of famine in Gaza increases by the day, with food security assessments showing that the estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza have the greatest need, especially in northern Gaza, where aid is largely cut off.” “This is an area where this is indicated.”
“Negotiations are progressing.”
As more Palestinians die day by day in Israel's war in Gaza, negotiations toward a cease-fire agreement continue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's national security adviser said Israel's war cabinet will meet on Saturday and negotiators who have met in Paris with representatives from the United States, Israel, Egypt and Qatar about a possible ceasefire. He said he plans to receive an explanation.
Tsachi Hanegbi told Israel's Channel 12 that the cabinet was “not sure if they [the negotiators] I didn't come home empty-handed. ”
Earlier on Saturday, there were reports that a new draft of the captive deal had been agreed at the Paris meeting.
In the latest brief, Hamas proposes to release about 40 prisoners held in Gaza in exchange for a six-week ceasefire and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. a source told Axios.
CIA Director Bill Burns, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian Intelligence Director Abbas Kamel participated in the talks.
The Israeli delegation, which includes the Mossad chief, the Shin Bet chief and the head of Israel's military intelligence, is expected to brief the war cabinet later on Saturday or Sunday.
If the Cabinet approves the new proposal, a follow-up meeting will be held in the coming days.
Axios reported that Biden administration officials said they wanted to try to reach an agreement before the start of Ramadan on March 10.
Further details of the negotiations, including the number and identity of the prisoners to be released, depend on whether Qatari and Egyptian negotiators get Hamas to agree to a new offer, according to sources cited by Israeli media. That's what it means.
A diplomat told Israel's Haaretz newspaper that “negotiations are progressing” and that “all parties are showing flexibility so we can reach an agreement in time.” [the holy month of] Ramadan.”
“Further progress is in the hands of Hamas,” he said.
