Israeli army says several projectiles fired toward Kerem Shalom crossing

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Israeli military said several projectiles were fired from the southern Gaza city of Rafah toward the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday.

"Approx. 18 projectiles were fired from the Rafah area toward the areas of the Kerem Shalom Crossing and Re’im (southern Israel), following the sirens that sounded earlier today," the army said on X.

This is the second time in the past few days that projectiles were fired toward the Kerem Shalom Crossing, it added.

"These projectiles prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The IDF will continue to operate to enable the necessary security conditions to reopen the Kerem Shalom Crossing to provide humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians," the army said.

The crossing is the main passage point for goods entering Gaza.

On Monday, Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for Palestinians in eastern Rafah in a move widely seen as a prelude to Israel's long-feared attack on the city, which is home to some 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces seized control of the Rafah border crossing linking Gaza with Egypt, closing it to all traffic.

The Israeli army said the 401st armored brigade took "operational control" of the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas which killed about 1,200 people. Nearly 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,100 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.