Palestinian Medics Report 22 Killed in Gaza as Israel Engages on Two Fronts, According to Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO – Israeli military airstrikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 22 Palestinians on Tuesday, as combat persisted between Israeli forces and Hamas-led fighters in Rafah, neighboring Egypt.

The escalation of violence in Gaza coincided with intensified clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah forces along Israel’s border with Lebanon, raising concerns of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Israeli tanks advanced through northern and western areas of Rafah, engaging fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as reported by local residents and statements from the militant groups. Witnesses indicated that the Israeli military destroyed several homes in the eastern and central regions of the city.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s armed factions claimed responsibility for counterattacking the invading forces using anti-tank rockets, triggering previously planted explosives, and deploying mortar fire.

According to Palestinian health officials, the casualties resulted from various Israeli airstrikes in central and southern Gaza. One strike in Nuseirat, one of the territory’s historic refugee camps, led to the deaths of six individuals, including three women.

The Israeli military has not provided any comments on these events.

The ongoing conflict has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents over nearly a year of violence, with Israeli air and artillery strikes causing extensive destruction throughout the Palestinian enclave. The Gaza health ministry reports over 41,400 Palestinians have lost their lives during the Israeli offensive.

The current war marks the deadliest phase in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was ignited on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli estimates.

In Washington, President Joe Biden remains committed to facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza and negotiating a hostage deal with Hamas while also aiming to ease tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border, as stated by national security adviser Jake Sullivan. “He absolutely hasn’t given up,” Sullivan remarked during an interview shortly before Biden was scheduled to address the UN General Assembly for the final time as president.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Editing by Ros Russell)