Israel confirms Rafah's imperative

IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman said that fighting in the southernmost city in Gaza would continue until Hamas was defeated there.

"Despite the heavy losses our imperative is to continue moving forward. You are attacking [Hamas’s] Rafah Brigade, and we will continue until we defeat it," Finkelman said.

Despite the ongoing battles, Gaza saw its first day of relative calm in months on June 16, after the IDF said it would “pause” fighting daily around a southern route to facilitate aid flows.

The pause for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8:00 am (05:00 GMT) until 7:00 pm (16:00 GMT) every day until further notice along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din road and then northwards.