Strikes on Gaza's Rafah raise fears assault could begin
STORY: Gazans in Rafah on Wednesday (March 27) inspected the damage caused by Israeli strikes overnight.
The newest round of bombardment raised fears among those sheltering in the last refuge on the southern edge of the enclave that a ground assault could be coming.
Displaced Gazan Jamil Abu Houri said the intensification of air strikes was Israel's way of showing its disdain for a U.N. Security Council resolution last week demanding an immediate ceasefire.
He fears next up would be a ground assault on Rafah, which Israel has threatened to carry out despite pleas from its closest ally Washington that this would cause too much harm to civilians.
"Look at our little ones. Look at our children. Where should we go?" Abu Houri said.
Separately, in the Israeli occupied West Bank, which has seen worsening bloodshed in parallel with the Gaza war, the Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday (March 27) at least three were killed by Israeli fire during a raid in Jenin overnight.
This Palestinian woman's son was one of them.
At least 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive into Hamas-run Gaza, according to the health ministry there.
Thousands of other dead are believed to be unrecovered under rubble.
The war began after Hamas fighters raided Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli forces just north of Rafah kept the two main hospitals in Khan Younis, Al-Amal and Nasser Hospital, under a blockade imposed late last week.
In the north, they were still operating inside Al Shifa, the enclave's largest hospital, which they stormed more than a week ago.
Israel says the hospitals have been used by Hamas fighters, which Hamas and medical staff deny.
