What's happened
Israeli tank brigade seizes control of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a crucial entry and exit point, amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. The move comes as part of Israel's offensive in the southern city of Rafah, raising concerns over the fate of Palestinians in the area.
Why it matters
The seizure of the Rafah crossing by Israel's tank brigade marks a significant escalation in the conflict with Hamas, potentially widening the rift between Israel and the United States. The move threatens the lives of Palestinians in Rafah and could impact ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post highlights the growing rift between Israel and the US, with the US pausing a shipment of bombs to Israel over concerns of a full-scale assault on Rafah. The Scotsman emphasizes the high-stakes diplomatic moves and military actions, leaving hope for a ceasefire but with core demands unmet. The Independent focuses on the humanitarian crisis in Rafah, with over a million people seeking refuge after fleeing Israel's military offensive.
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing, with Israel seizing control of the Rafah crossing to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities. The humanitarian crisis in Rafah has worsened, with a large population seeking shelter after fleeing other parts of Gaza due to the conflict.
More on these topics
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.