RAFAH: Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday and tanks pushed into the southern Gazan city of Rafah as international mediators struggled to find agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian groups.
Palestinian movement Hamas accused Israel of trying to undermine the truce talks taking place in Cairo by mounting the offensive.
Israeli Army Radio announced its forces had taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on Tuesday morning and army footage showed tanks rolling through the complex and the Israeli flag raised on the Gaza side.
Despite international appeals for Israel to hold off an assault on Rafah, Israeli tanks and planes also attacked several areas and houses there overnight. The Gaza health ministry said Israeli strikes across the enclave had killed 54 Palestinians and wounded 96 others in the past 24 hours.
On Tuesday morning, people searched for bodies under the rubble of wrecked buildings. Raed al-Derby said his wife and children had been killed. Standing in the street, anguish etched on his face, he said: "We're patient and we will remain steadfast on this land.. We are waiting for liberation and this battle will be for liberation, God willing."
More than one million people have sought refuge in Rafah, living in tented camps and makeshift shelters. Many are trying to leave, heeding Israeli orders for them to evacuate, but with large areas of the coastal enclave already laid to waste, they say they have nowhere safe to go to.
The Israeli military said a limited operation in Rafah was meant to kill fighters and dismantle infrastructure used by Palestinian groups, which govern Gaza.
Hamas said late on Monday it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal but Israel said the terms did not meet its demands. On Tuesday, the group said the Israel's Rafah incursion was aimed at undermining ceasefire efforts.
Israel has for weeks threatened to mount a major incursion in Rafah, which it says harbours thousands of fighters and where potentially dozens of captives are being held.
A total of 34,789 Palestinians, most of then civilians, have been now killed in the conflict, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
The United States and other governments have been pressing Israel not to start a campaign in Rafah until it had drawn up a humanitarian plan for the Palestinians sheltering there.
As the ceasefire talks stumbled, mediator Qatar said its delegation would try to resume indirect negotiations in Cairo. — Reuters
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