Israel hits parts of Gaza including Rafah as truce deal hopes fade

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Israel on Saturday (May 11) hit parts of the war-ravaged Gaza StripincludingRafahasthe hopes of a truce deal (between Israel and Hamas) were fading away. A report by the news agency AFP said that at least 21 people were killed during strikes in central Gaza and taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Whilein Rafah, there wereintense air strikes near the crossing with Egypt.

Other Israel strikes occurred in north Gaza, AFP reported citing witnesses. The strikes came after the Israeli military on Tuesday (May 7)seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing -- through which all fuel passes into Gaza -- after ordering residents of eastern Rafah to evacuate.

On Saturday, the military said thattroops were fighting "armed terrorists" at the crossing and had found "numerous underground tunnel shafts."

300k fled Rafah since the initial evacuation order

Israel said on Saturday that 300,000 people had fled Rafah since an initial evacuation order. Sharing a new evacuation order on X, the Israeli military told Palestiniansto go to the "humanitarian zone" of Al-Mawasi, on the coast northwest of Rafah.

"A call to all residents and displaced people in the Jabalia area and the neighbourhoods of Al-Salam, Al-Nour, Tal Al-Zaatar, Beit Lahia Project, Jabalia Camp, Ezbet Mlin, Al-Rawda, Al-Nuzha, Al-Jarn, Al-Nahda, and Al-Zuhour - go immediately to the shelters west of Gaza City!" the post added.

Death toll in Gaza nears 35,000

The war between Israel and Hamas began after the Palestinian militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 last year, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

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Israel has said 128 of them are still held captive in the Palestinian territory. Among them, 38 are presumed to be dead.

Israel struck back hard in the Gaza Strip, killingat least 34,971,mostlywomen and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Thousands of people havebeen injuredin the Palestinian territory.

(With inputs from agencies)