Israel has started the shelling of the populated border region of Rafah amid an escalated Israeli military incursion into southern Gaza. The military forces stepped up attacks on the southern Gaza Strip late Wednesday, destroying at least 30 homes The Jerusalem Post reported.
The Army claims the operation was aimed at destroying "smuggling tunnels" in the border crossing. It vowed to continue the attacks through the night, the Israeli channel 10 reported.
The military had earlier dropped flyers on Rafah calling on residents to evacuate the area. "Because Hamas uses your houses to hide and smuggle military weapons, the IDF will attack the area, between the Egyptian border and the beach road," the leaflet said, according a local UN official.
Tel Aviv has launched Operation Cast Lead against the Gaza Strip December 27, bringing the densely populated area under a full-scale aerial, naval and ground offensive. The military operation has so far claimed at least 710 lives and left over 3,100 others wounded.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes bombed 3 schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip. The attack left at least 48 people who had taken refuge inside the schools killed. |