Gaza ministry reports at least 35 killed in strike that hit civilian tents in Rafah
NBCMay 23
Israeli Forces Reach Central Rafah
Above: An Israeli armored personnel carrier moves near the border with the Southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2024 in Southern Israel. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Witnesses reported on Tuesday that Israeli tanks had reached Al-Awda mosque in central Rafah, with the Israeli military saying that its forces continue to operate in the city. Heavy airstrikes and tank fire were reported in central Rafah overnight.
The advance deeper into Rafah comes in spite of international outcry over an Israeli airstrike on Sunday night that hit a tent camp for displaced Palestinians and killed at least 45 people, many of whom burned to death. Tent camps now reportedly stretch over 10 miles (6 mi) along Gaza's coastline.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. However, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has gotten out of hand, and the Biden administration's red lines are clear. Netanyahu must keep his promises and work with US allies to find a resolution to this conflict.
Pro-Israel narrative
The battle for Rafah is the most important battle of this war. Israeli forces are focusing on the Philadelphi corridor, which straddles the Egyptian border, as this region is crucial in preventing Hamas from rebuilding its terror supply lines into Gaza. Indeed, Israel must continue to push forward in Rafah, as it is the only way to defeat Hamas.
Pro-Palestine narrative
After over seven months of non-stop brutality, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The US has simply failed to reel Netanyahu in, and over 35K Palestinians are dead because of it. Indeed, Israeli attempts to evacuate Rafah have forced almost 1M people into even worse humanitarian conditions. Israeli crimes keep stacking up, yet the international community and the US refuse to do anything meaningful to stop the carnage.