News about Rafah, Israel

On 6 May, before and during the offensive, Israel struck Rafah at least 50 times. Later that day, in a limited invasion, the IDF entered the outskirts of Rafah and approached the Rafah Border Crossing and the Egyptian border. 20 Hamas gunmen were killed in the operation, according to the IDF.

As a result of massive bombardment and ground assaults in Gaza City and Khan Yunis by Israel during the Israel–Hamas war, about 1.4 million people are believed to be sheltering in Rafah as of February 2024.

Hamas motivations Mohammad Deif, the head of the Qassam Brigades, said on 7 October that the Hamas attack was in response to what he called the "desecration" of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Israel killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians in 2023.