Israeli forces have seized the main border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza, shutting down a vital aid route into the Palestinian enclave that is already on the brink of famine. This report contains graphic images.

Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Israeli forces have taken control of the main border crossing between Egypt and southern Gaza, effectively halting a crucial pathway for aid into a region on the verge of famine. The operation has shuttered the Rafah border crossing, a critical lifeline for over one million displaced Palestinian civilians residing in the area. This action has led to immediate international concern, with queues of aid trucks now visible on the Egyptian side of Rafah, unable to proceed.

The United Nations and multiple international aid organizations have reported that the closure of both Rafah and the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossings has isolated southern Gaza, exacerbating conditions in an area heavily reliant on external support. This comes in the wake of continued international pleas, including those from the U.S., urging Israel to refrain from escalating its offensive in Rafah. Displaced residents, like Fayda Shalaa from Gaza City, express a dire sense of vulnerability, citing ongoing bombardment and insecurity.

The healthcare framework in Gaza faces impending collapse due to the blockade, with critical medical supplies and access to essential treatments being severely restricted. Dr. Mohamed Abou Skil, from the emergency department of Rafah's Kuwaiti hospital, emphasized the catastrophic impact the crossing's closure will have on patient care. Additionally, Rafah served as the only exit for those seeking medical interventions unavailable within Gaza's confines.

In response to the situation, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made a public appeal to both Israel and Hamas, urging the initiation of peace talks to avoid further humanitarian disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has marked the seizure of the crossing as a pivotal move towards debilitating Hamas' military capabilities.

The conflict, which initiated on October 7 following attacks by Hamas militants resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of about 250 individuals, has since led to the deaths of around 35,000 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, in retaliatory strikes by Israel. This ongoing seven-month war saw a brief respite with a week-long ceasefire in November, an interval that remains the only cessation of hostilities since the conflict's onset.



Gaza aid choked off after Israeli forces seize crossing

Aid trucks were seen lined up on the road in Egypt's Rafah on Tuesday, after Israel took control of the Palestinian side of the main border crossing. The United Nations and other international aid agencies said the closing of the two crossings into southern Gaza, Rafah and Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom, had virtually cut off the already devastated enclave from outside aid. The seizure of the Rafah crossing, where more than one million displaced Palestinian civilians are holed up, came despite weeks of calls from the U.S. and others for Israel to hold off from a big offensive in Rafah. Fayda Shalaa, a displaced Palestinian woman from Gaza City, said, I don't see that there is any place that is safe. There is bombing, shelling, and we have had enough. Dr. Mohamed Abou Skil works in the emergency department of the Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah. The closure of the Rafah crossing will contribute further to the demise of the health situation in Gaza Strip, specifically in the city of Rafah, because it is through the Rafah crossing that essential medical supplies needed for the health care in Gaza come in. The crossing was also the only exit point for those needing to leave Gaza for medical treatment unavailable inside the enclave. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Israel and Hamas on Tuesday to spare no effort in arriving at a truce deal. Make no mistake, a full-scale assault on Rafah would be a human catastrophe. Countless more civilian casualties, countless more families forced to flee yet again with nowhere safe to go. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said seizing the crossing was a significant step towards its aim of destroying Hamas' military capabilities. Hamas accused Israel of trying to undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire in the seven-month-long war, which started when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others, according to Israeli tallies. Around 35,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israeli strikes since, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Any truce would be the first pause in fighting since a week-long ceasefire in November.

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Israel-Gaza War