Palestinian civilians told to evacuate eastern Rafah by the Israeli military have described their fear and despair at being uprooted from their homes and shelters, as Israel airstrikes hit Gaza’s southernmost city. There were hopes that the Rafah offensive would not go ahead after Hamas accepted a ceasefire proposal on Monday, but those were quickly dashed after Israel said the terms were “far from Israel’s necessary requirements” and it would continue “in order to exert military pressure” on the militant group. By Tuesday morning, Israeli airstrikes on Rafah had killed 23 people, including a child, according to hospital officials in southern Gaza. The Israeli military said it had “operational control” of the Gazan side of the Rafah crossing, a vital entry point to transport desperately needed aid into the enclave from its southern border with Egypt. Hamas said the Israeli military’s move on Rafah constituted a “humanitarian catastrophe” that posed…
