Israeli drone strikes in Rafah kill three Palestinians in the midst of growing violence and fragile ceasefire talks in Cairo.
The Israeli attacks against Gaza killed three Palestinians and injured several in the southern governor of Rafah while Hamas and Egyptian officials meet in Cairo for interviews on the future of a precarious ceasefire.
On Saturday morning, an Israeli drone targeted a group of people east of Rafah City, killing two Palestinians. Our colleagues in the field reported that a person had also been killed by an Israeli fire in At-Tannour, also east of Rafah.
Since Friday evening, Rafah has been the target of intense Israeli attacks of tanks and drones with bombings with an impact on residential areas, including Al-Jnaina, Ash-Shawka and Tal As-Sultan, reported the Palestinian press agency WAFA.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 48,453 Palestinians were killed and 111,860 injured by Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023.
At the same time, the head of the Enclave government media office reported on Saturday to mark the international day of women that 12,316 women were killed throughout the war.
“Women’s Day coincides with the pursuit of the Israeli seat and the prevention of aid as women living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions and suffer from famine and thirst,” said Salama Maarouf.
According to government data, at least 2,000 women and girls have been handicapped due to amputations.
Ceasefire conferences
Friday, a delegation from Hamas arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to discuss the ceasefire of Gaza.
According to the AFP news agency, two high members of Hamas are part of a high-level delegation which should speak to Egyptian officials on Saturday about the next phase of the ceasefire.
Reporting from Gaza City, Hind Khoudary of Al Jazeera said that the Palestinians were waiting for the agreement.
“We know that the first phase of the ceasefire ended on March 1, and Israel and Hamas agreed with a truce for a week. Today, this truce ends, ”said Khoudary. “The Palestinians are very anxious and underlined that the second phase of the ceasefire has not yet taken effect. People here await all the news of these negotiations and believe that this ceasefire is fragile. »»
While the Palestinians are waiting for the news from the ceasefire, the Israeli blocking of humanitarian aid exerts immense pressure on people who already have trouble getting out of it.
“This blockade stifles the Palestinians. They say that they never imagined that a ceasefire and a Ramadan would come and that they would not be able to cook their favorite dishes, “said Khoudary, adding that community kitchens are now short of stock.
At the end of February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that humanitarian aid would no longer enter Gaza in retaliation for Hamas not to accept Israel’s proposal for the first phase of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, more than 50 liberated Israeli captives have urged Netanyahu to fully implement the ceasefire of Gaza and to guarantee the release of those who are always held in Gaza.
“We who have experienced the Inferno soaps that a return to war is fatal for those who are always left behind,” said the 56 old captives in a letter published on Instagram. “Implement the agreement in its entirety in a single maneuver.”
