Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians in the city of Rafah and the town of al-Fukhrari near Khan Younis. The UN’s main food agency was forced to halt operations from a US-built floating pier in Gaza after a deadly massacre in Nuseirat left hospitals overwhelmed and hundreds killed or injured. Despite mounting needs for aid in the enclave, entry has been restricted since May when Israeli forces seized control of a main border crossing at Rafah.
As bombs continued to fall in Gaza, Israeli shelling in various neighborhoods and air raids on Deir al-Balah city have led to civilian casualties. Ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel have stalled, prompting US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to visit Cairo for meetings with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi before heading to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing internal challenges after the departure of senior minister Benny Gantz.