Israeli forces move deeper into Rafah

RAFAH/JERUSALEM — The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza's last refuge accelerated on Sunday as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory's devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped in areas the military said it had cleared months ago.

Palestinians reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight in the urban Jabaliya refugee camp and other areas in northern Gaza, which has been largely isolated by Israeli forces for months. United Nations officials said there is a "full-blown famine" there.

Residents said Israeli warplanes and artillery also struck the Zeitoun area east of Gaza City, where troops have battled militants for over a week. They have called on tens of thousands of people to relocate to nearby areas.

"It was a very difficult night," Abdel-Kareem Radwan, a 48-year-old from Jabaliya, said. He said they could hear intense and constant bombing since midday on Saturday. "This is madness."

First responders with the Palestinian Civil Defense said they were unable to respond to multiple calls for help from both areas, as well as from Rafah.

Daniel Hagari, Israel's top military spokesman, said forces were also operating in the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, which were heavily bombed in the opening days.

Hamas' military wing said it shelled Israeli special forces east of Jabaliya and fired mortar shells at troops and vehicles entering the Rafah border crossing area.

Since Sunday morning, the Israeli strikes have prompted a large number of Palestinian families to flee westward, carrying belongings on foot or cramped in vehicles.

"The bombing is everywhere," said resident Hajja Zuhriya Salman. "We are escaping from death to death, and there is no safe place in Gaza."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah, and said that Israel would "be left holding the bag on an enduring insurgency "without an exit from Gaza and a post-conflict governance plan.

In two TV interviews, Blinken underscored that the United States believes Israeli forces should "get out of Gaza", but is also waiting to see credible plans from Israel for security and governance in the territory after the conflict.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the US and European countries were not doing enough to pressure Israel to agree to a cease-fire in Gaza after Hamas accepted a truce proposal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a Memorial Day speech to continue fighting until victory in memory of those killed in the conflict.

In Tel Aviv, hundreds of protesters stood outside military headquarters and lit candles, demanding an immediate cease-fire deal to return the hostages.

Israel's offensive has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

In Hamas' Oct 7 surprise attack in Israel, about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.

Agencies - Xinhua