Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, the southern governorate, killed three Palestinians and wounded several others as talks continue in Cairo between Hamas officials regarding a potential ceasefire, while Israel has said it is sending a delegation to Qatar.
Two Palestinians were killed on Saturday morning when an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of individuals east of Rafah city. Al Jazeera reporters said a third person was killed by Israeli gunfire in the at-Tannour area, also east of Rafah.
Intense Israeli bombardment, including by tanks and drones, has been focused on Rafah since Friday night, with residential neighborhoods such as al-Jnaina, ash-Shawka, and Tal as-Sultan being severely destroyed by shelling, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza says at least 48,453 Palestinians have been killed and 111,860 injured due to Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. Marking International Women’s Day, the director of the enclave’s Government Media Office said 12,316 women have died in the current fighting.
Salama Maarouf highlighted the catastrophic condition of Gaza’s women, where Women’s Day coincides with the ongoing Israeli blockade and prohibition of humanitarian aid. The dire living conditions are being endured by a large number of women, including hunger and thirst. Official reports illustrate that at least 2,000 girls and women have been permanently disabled as a result of amputations.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, aided by Israel’s recent decision to halt aid deliveries until Hamas agrees to certain conditions for the extension of the ceasefire.
In a communiqué released on Saturday, Hamas accused the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing “the war crime of collective punishment” against over two million Palestinian civilians. The movement condemned the ongoing denial of basic essentials, pointing out that the repercussions of these measures extend beyond Gaza, with prisoners in the hands of resistance factions also facing shortages of foodstuffs, medication, and medical treatment.
