Israeli forces launched another round of attacks on central Gaza on Sunday, following a hostage rescue operation that resulted in the deaths of 274 Palestinians the previous day.
Tanks also moved into additional areas of Rafah, aiming to secure parts of the southern city, as reported by residents and media sources.
Palestinians were deeply shaken by the high death toll on Saturday, which included many women and children, according to Palestinian medics.
The Gaza health ministry updated the casualty figures on Sunday, stating that 274 Palestinians had been killed and 698 injured during the Israeli special forces’ incursion into the densely populated Al-Nuseirat camp to free four hostages held by Hamas since October.
Israel’s military confirmed the death of a special forces officer during clashes with Hamas, but disputed the casualty count, stating that it was aware of fewer than 100 Palestinians killed and unable to determine the breakdown between militants and civilians.
Further violence erupted on Sunday, with three Palestinians killed and several injured in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Al-Bureij. Tank shelling also targeted parts of nearby Al-Maghazi and Al-Nuseirat refugee camps.
The Israeli military continued its operations east of Bureij and the city of Deir al-Balah, targeting Palestinian gunmen and militant infrastructure.
The incursion into Rafah, initiated in May with the goal of neutralizing remaining combat units, has led to mass displacement, with around one million people fleeing the city.
Israeli tanks advanced into two new districts of Rafah on Sunday, intensifying clashes with armed groups aligned with Hamas.
The majority of displaced persons who sought refuge in eastern Rafah have now relocated, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
As the conflict persists, attempts to broker a ceasefire have faltered due to entrenched positions from both Israeli and militant groups.
The ongoing violence in Gaza has broader implications for regional stability, drawing in actors like Iran and Hezbollah, and raising concerns about the escalation of hostilities into a wider conflict.
