Fighting continues in Rafah, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip deepens

2024-06-21 17:36:17, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israeli forces hit the city of Rafah today with air and ground attacks in an attempt to extend control over this city in the south of the Gaza Strip. Fighting was also reported in other parts of Gaza between the Israeli army and Hamas militants, while health officials said the aid blockade had worsened the humanitarian situation and hundreds of children were suffering from malnutrition. Qatari officials, who are mediating the ceasefire efforts, announced that little progress had been made in the negotiations, while Armenia was added to the list of countries that recognize the Palestinian state.

The Israeli army announced on Friday that it is conducting operations in the city of Rafah and that, based on intelligence sources, it has identified tunnels used by Hamas militants.

According to the residents of Rafah, during the last two days Israeli operations have intensified.

During a meeting Thursday with officials of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will continue its military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"We will not leave the Gaza Strip until all the hostages - dead and alive - are returned. We are undertaking this mission and many other missions, which it is better not to talk about," he declared.

Qatar's foreign minister, who along with the United States and Egypt is committed to brokering an agreement between Israel and Hamas, called for an immediate ceasefire.

"There have been some developments, and based on Hamas's response, we have the impression that there are still disagreements between what has been proposed and Hamas's response. And this is normal in negotiations: one side cannot force the other side to accept their point of view. Both parties must make sacrifices," Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani declared.

The fighting in Gaza has further deepened the humanitarian crisis in this territory. In just one hospital in the northern part of Gaza, according to health officials, about 250 children have been treated for the consequences of malnutrition, a number that is increasing on a daily basis due to the continued lack of aid despite the promises of the Israeli army to enable the opening of a humanitarian corridor.

According to aid workers, the lack of order and Palestinian armed groups blocking convoys have made it difficult to transport aid to the displaced, blocking efforts to distribute aid inside Gaza.

A quantity of aid was unloaded on Thursday through the US military's temporary port, which has faced numerous problems due to rough seas./ VOA