Dozens have been killed as extremely intense Israeli airstrikes and shelling pounded multiple locations in Rafah overnight Monday, as international alarm mounts over Israel's planned ground offensive in the southern Gazan city.
The Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza said 94 people were killed due to warplanes targeting different areas of the city and helicopters firing machine guns along the border areas.
More than 1.3 million people — more than half of Gaza's population — are seeking refuge in Rafah.
There are severe shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday directed the country's military to plan for the evacuation of the population from Rafah after saying the army would soon go into Rafah, Hamas's last bastion.
Meanwhile, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Kingdom joined a growing list of countries to express concern over Israel's planned offensive.
The US on Monday said it did not support a full-scale operation without a credible plan to protect civilians.
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