The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that their 401st Armored Brigade successfully seized control of the Gazan side of the Rafah Crossing this morning. This development follows an overnight offensive where the Givati Brigade separately secured the Salah a-Din road in eastern Rafah.
During the operation, around 20 gunmen were reportedly killed, and IDF troops discovered three significant tunnel shafts. Additionally, the military reported destroying an explosive-laden car that was approaching an IDF tank.
Thankfully, no soldiers have been wounded thus far in the operation. Troops are currently conducting searches in the area and preparing for further missions. Simultaneously, the Israeli Air Force targeted more than 50 Hamas sites in Rafah overnight.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has conducted an investigation into an Israeli strike in south Lebanon in March. The probe revealed that the seven individuals killed in the strike were emergency workers and not terrorists, contrary to initial claims by the Israeli military.
HRW stated that if the attack on civilians was intentional or reckless, it should be investigated as a potential war crime. The organization found no evidence of a military target at the site and concluded that the strike unlawfully targeted a residential structure housing civilian emergency responders.
Despite initial assertions by the Israeli military that the victims were members of a terrorist group, HRW confirmed that they were civilians, including 18-year-old twin brothers. However, social media content suggested that at least two of the deceased may have had affiliations with the group targeted by the strike.
