Israel continues deadly attacks on Gaza, Rafah crossing closed amid clashes with Hamas

Gaza: Israeli tank fire targeted a car in Gaza City, killing 11 members of a Palestinian family, amid ongoing clashes in the region. Palestinian officials report that since the ceasefire came into effect in early October, Israel has committed 47 violations, resulting in 38 deaths and 143 injuries.

Rafah border crossing remains closed

Israel announced that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed “until further notice.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited Hamas’s failure to retrieve captives’ bodies as the reason for the closure. Hamas has returned two more bodies to Israel while protests in Tel Aviv demand the return of all remains. Hamas criticised Netanyahu, accusing him of using “flimsy pretexts to disrupt” the ceasefire.

The ongoing war has killed at least 68,116 people and wounded 170,200 in Gaza since October 2023. During the initial October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, 1,139 people were killed, and around 200 were taken captive.

Uncertainty over transitional government in Gaza

Experts, including Adnan Hayajneh of Qatar University, highlight uncertainty over how a transitional government would operate in Gaza. Hamas has controlled the enclave for two decades, and establishing a new administration with schools, hospitals, and civil institutions would require negotiations and a transition period.

Reports from Jordan indicate clashes between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces in Rafah, including an IED detonation injuring Israeli soldiers. Israeli media claims Hamas carried out “multiple attacks” on Israeli forces, while Israeli politicians assert the ceasefire was breached and a swift response is required.

The violence in southern Gaza and the closure of Rafah highlight the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing humanitarian crisis, as both sides prepare for further military and political manoeuvres.