Israeli Forces Seize Control of Rafah’s Border With Sinai

By Yoni Weiss

Reports from Palestinian sources Tuesday indicate that the IDF has assumed control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, likely to curb smuggling activities from Egypt. The offensive, led by the 162nd Armored Division alongside the 401st and Givati Brigades, commenced Monday night in eastern Rafah. Consequently, the Gaza side of the crossing has been effectively severed from the Philadelphi Route, now under IDF operational command. Within a short span, the IDF targeted over 100 Hamas sites.

During the operation, 20 terrorists were neutralized, and three significant tunnels were uncovered. A vehicle carrying explosives was intercepted as it approached a tank, preventing potential harm. Specialized units continue to comb the area for ongoing engagements, with no reported casualties among IDF personnel.

This action follows directives for evacuation issued to Palestinian residents of eastern Rafah on Monday. The escalation comes in the wake of failed indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with a senior U.S. official indicating discrepancies between Hamas’s stance and the proposals put forward by Egypt and Israel.

Israeli forces pinpointed the Rafah crossing area as a strategic focal point, recognizing its significance in Hamas’s armament efforts compared to the Philadelphi Route. While described as “contained and limited,” the operation’s scope remains adaptable based on unfolding circumstances.

Preceding the ground incursion, the Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes in Rafah and surrounding regions, commencing at approximately 2:20 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Palestinian sources reported nine fatalities resulting from the bombing of a structure in Rafah. Meanwhile, the U.S. military intercepted a missile launched by Hamas toward Israel over the Red Sea.

Efforts to establish humanitarian corridors faced disruptions, with activists obstructing aid convoys from Jordan en route to Gaza along Highway 1. Nevertheless, the Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed optimism in facilitating an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, citing a positive initial response from Hamas. This latest escalation comes on the heels of two Israeli soldiers losing their lives on Monday due to an explosive-laden drone from Lebanon in the Metula vicinity, near the Lebanese border.