Fighting and Bombardment Continues in Gaza as Israel Reopens Aid Route
On May 8th, 2024, the southern Gaza city of Rafah witnessed intense fighting and bombardment as Israel reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing for aid. The Israeli military claimed to have carried out a targeted counterterrorism operation, resulting in the deaths of Hamas fighters. Hamas also reported clashes in the area.
Earlier, military lorries had reached Kerem Shalom following it was closed due to a rocket attack on Sunday. However, a UN agency stated that no supplies had entered through the crossing yet.
Negotiations for a new ceasefire and hostage release were underway in Cairo, with the United States expressing hope for a breakthrough based on a revised Hamas proposal. The significance of the US government’s decision to halt a shipment of powerful bombs over concerns of an Israeli offensive on Rafah was downplayed by the Israeli military.
Israel has maintained that capturing Rafah is essential for victory in its war with Hamas. However, with over a million Palestinians seeking refuge in the city, the UN and Western powers have warned regarding the potential devastating humanitarian consequences of an all-out assault.
Plumes of smoke from Israeli air strikes rose over Rafah, and heavy gunfire was heard on Wednesday as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued a limited offensive in eastern areas. The IDF reported eliminating terrorists, uncovering terrorist infrastructure, and launching airstrikes on over 100 “terror targets” throughout Gaza over the past day.
Residents of Rafah reported intense bombardment overnight, and disturbing video footage showed people searching through the rubble of destroyed buildings. The ongoing hostilities and military operations have also severely impacted the functioning of hospitals, with one hospital in Rafah completely non-operational and others facing depletion of fuel and supplies.
The reopening of Kerem Shalom for humanitarian aid was announced by the IDF, but the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, reported that no aid had entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom or Rafah due to ongoing military operations. Disputing this claim, an Israeli government spokesman emphasized that the crossing was open and criticized the surplus of aid not being distributed on the Gaza side.
The closure of both Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings was condemned by UN Secretary General António Guterres, highlighting its detrimental impact on an already dire humanitarian situation. Guterres urged Israel and Hamas to spare no effort in reaching a ceasefire, emphasizing that the fate of the