The Israeli army controls the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing

On Tuesday morning, the Israeli army announced “operational control” of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with Egypt.

The Israeli army said in a statement that “the forces of the 401st Brigade have achieved operational control of the Rafah crossing from the Gaza side”.

“The Israeli army cut off the Rafah crossing from the Salah al Din axis, and now armored forces from the 401st Brigade are in full control of the crossing; Special units launched an attack on the eastern area of Rafah, residents were ordered forcibly evacuated,” the statement said.

The statement claimed that during the attack “20 militants were killed and three large underground wells were found in the area”.

“The Israeli army are now conducting combing operations for the areas that have been captured,” the statement said, adding that “there were no casualties among our forces during the night”.

UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis said nothing justified the “reckless attack” on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

In a post on X on Monday, he warned against launching any Israeli military operation on the city of Rafah, which he said is home to more than a million displaced Palestinians.

“Launching a ground operation on eastern Rafah will cause more humanitarian disasters,” he said.

The UN official also expressed concern about Israel’s launch of a ground operation on Rafah, stressing that it’s time to take decisive steps towards a permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of prisoners.

“To say it frankly, nothing justifies a reckless attack on Rafah that will lead to more humanitarian disasters,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli armored vehicles penetrated into the Rafah crossing, after last night witnessed heavy shelling in the vicinity of the crossing and the sounds of clashes between the Israeli army and Palestinian factions were heard.

Meanwhile, a recent anonymous video showing an Israeli tank wandering inside the Rafah crossing went viral on social media.

Other photographs showed the Israeli flag raised over flagpoles inside the crossing.

There was no immediate official comment from the Palestinian side on the Israeli incursion.