Israeli Airstrikes Target Rafah Amid Ongoing Conflict with Hamas

Heightened tensions enveloped southern Gaza early Sunday as the Israeli military conducted extensive demolition operations and heavy artillery shelling in the eastern regions of Khan Younis, according to local reporters.

Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes executed a series of airstrikes on Rafah, although details regarding the specific targets were not disclosed.

Israeli military vehicles also engaged in heavy gunfire near the Morag axis north of Rafah, coinciding with significant aerial activity in the area.

These actions are part of the Israeli army's ongoing efforts to locate Hamas fighters believed to be hiding within the tunnels of Rafah.

* 30 Fighters Reported Killed Amid Stalemate

The Israeli military reported last Friday that 30 fighters, including nine from the eastern section of Rafah, were killed while entrenched in the tunnel network.

Meanwhile, secret negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis have reached an impasse, as Israel demands the surrender of Hamas fighters and the relinquishment of their weapons, a proposal that Hamas has firmly rejected.

Israeli estimates suggest that over a hundred individuals remain trapped within the extensive tunnel system beneath Rafah, which is currently under Israeli military oversight. A senior Hamas official indicated that the number of trapped militants, primarily from the Al-Qassam Brigades, is estimated to be between 60 and 80.