FILE: Smoke rises in central Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, February 14, 2024.as international pressure grew for Israel to hold off on an assault on the densely populated southern border city of Rafah.
At least 1 200 Israelis were killed and around 250 were taken hostage in a raid by Hamas militants on southern Israel on October 7, prompting Israel to retaliate. At least 28 576 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli strikes, the health ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said before talks scheduled with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an offensive on Rafah would jeopardise the humanitarian situation there.