Israeli airstrikes on Rafah during an overnight operation resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including nine children. Initial reports from health officials indicate that among the casualties were a man, his pregnant wife, and their three-year-old child. Doctors successfully saved the unborn baby post-strike. A subsequent attack claimed the lives of eight children and two women from another family.

Following these developments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated plans for a ground assault on Rafah, heightening concerns over potential increases in civilian casualties and exacerbating the difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza. The US president has warned that proceeding without adequate civilian safeguards would be unacceptable.

The strikes are part of a broader conflict described by Israel’s Defence Minister as a “multi-front war,” which also involves engagements with Hezbollah at Israel’s northern border, and Iranian-backed forces in Syria. The US House of Representatives recently approved significant military aid for Israel amidst these escalating tensions.

Also noteworthy is the recent violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians, including an ambulance driver, during a raid.

In a parallel development aimed at addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis, the U.N. World Food Program has partnered with the U.S. military to distribute aid in Gaza via a new sea route. This initiative follows the construction of a pier by the U.S. military, facilitating humanitarian assistance delivery by sea and addressing previous challenges linked to security concerns and restrictions on aid distribution. Completion of the pier is scheduled by early May, with security provided by U.S. Navy and Army vessels to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of aid to Gaza’s civilian population.