As a result, the border crossing to Rafah will be closed.
The operation was led by the army’s 162nd Division and the 401st Armored Brigade. They are cooperating with special units already in the eastern Rafah area, Haaretz writes, referring to a statement from the military (IDF).
An Egyptian source stated on Monday that Israeli tanks had entered the city, and that they were approximately 200 meters from the border with Egypt.
Rafah is located in the very south of the Gaza Strip and borders the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.
According to the IDF, 150 Hamas targets have been destroyed and the Israeli forces have fought for full control of the Gaza side of the border crossing. At least 20 Hamas soldiers have been killed, says the Israeli announcement. Several tunnel shafts are also said to have been destroyed.
The Rafah border has been central throughout the war.
Also read: Espen Barth Eide: – Expect both parties to show their will
AFP: Heavy attacks on the night of Tuesday
On Monday, Palestinians in Rafah were told to go to so-called humanitarian areas in anticipation of the long-announced Israeli ground invasion, and Israel says it has carried out “targeted attacks” against Hamas targets in Rafah.
The news agency AFP reports that on the night of Tuesday there were heavy attacks against Rafah. Israel has bombed the city both from the air and from the ground. According to the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, several people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.
The Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah reports that they have admitted at least eleven dead and several dozen injured after Israeli attacks.
Al Jazeera: Great fear in Rafah
There is great fear and confusion among the Palestinians in Rafah in connection with the Israeli invasion of the city.
Many fear that Rafah will suffer the same fate as Khan Younis, and that all housing, civil infrastructure and healthcare will be destroyed, reports a reporter from the Arab TV channel Al Jazeera.
The channel also reports that at least 20 Palestinians were killed when Israeli airstrikes hit residential buildings during the night.
Israel announced on Tuesday morning that it has taken control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing between Rafah and Egypt. In addition, the border crossing Kerem Shalom has been closed since Sunday. Both play an important role in getting emergency aid into the Gaza Strip.
– The war must end
– The whole world is watching and expects both parties to show a willingness to meet each other, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap), in a comment to Nettavisen on Monday.
On Monday, Israel reportedly refused a ceasefire. Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army announced an attack on Rafah.
– Such an agreement is the goal in the short term, to put an end to the enormous suffering in Gaza. I repeat the demand that the war must end, the hostages must be released and the people of Gaza must get the help they need. At the same time, we must continue to work for a two-state solution, which is the real solution to this, said the foreign minister.