ALBAWABA- Israeli forces launched heavy airstrikes on Rafah early Wednesday after three armed men reportedly emerged from a tunnel in the southern city and fired an anti-tank missile toward Israeli troops, according to Army Radio.
Israeli helicopters were seen landing east of Rafah as intense bombardment hit several areas of the city, alongside heavy shelling on Gaza City’s Shuja'iyya neighborhood.
Channel 14 reported a fierce exchange of gunfire between Israeli forces and the armed group, while Channel 12 cited a senior official saying the incident was being treated “with utmost seriousness,” adding that the army “will not overlook any attempt to harm its soldiers.”
The escalation comes as the Israeli army and Shin Bet confirmed that the Red Cross had received one of the remaining bodies held in Gaza and was transporting it toward Israeli forces.
These developments unfold against the backdrop of a fragile October 10, 2025, truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. The 20-point agreement halted major fighting after two years of war that killed more than 70,000 Palestinians and displaced Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The first phase delivered a six-week pause, the release of all living Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, and the initial entry of humanitarian aid.
But the deal has since deteriorated into what local officials call a “reduced fire.” By December 2, Gaza’s Government Media Office had documented 591 Israeli violations, including 280 bombings and shellings, 164 civilian shootings, 25 incursions beyond the designated yellow line, and 118 property demolitions, resulting in 356 deaths and 909 injuries.
Israel, meanwhile, reports 18 Palestinian breaches, including ambushes and delays in returning remains.
More than 58% of Gaza remains militarized, with over 1,500 buildings demolished since October, often described by Israel as “terror infrastructure” but criticized by Amnesty International as potential war crimes. Humanitarian access also remains strained; with an average of 300 aid trucks entering daily, roughly half the number pledged, worsening famine risks according to UN agencies.
