Israeli forces push deeper into Rafah, hit aid distribution center with air strikes

The Israeli military killed at least 60 Palestinians and engaged in close combat with Hamas militants in Rafah on Thursday, according to Reuters, citing health officials and Hamas media.

Israeli tanks advanced in Rafah's southeast, edged towards the city's western district of Yibna and continued to operate in three eastern suburbs, the report added. 

At least 12 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike targeting an aid distribution center in central Gaza, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Thursday.

An Israeli aircraft targeted the center in the east of Deir al-Balah city with a missile, Xinhua reported, citing security sources. 

The bodies of the dead, along with several other wounded, had been transported to the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city, medical sources said. 

Meanwhile, Gaza's health authorities warned on Thursday of the likely suspension of health services at the Al-Aqsa Hospital due to fuel depletion, leaving dozens of patients at risk of death.

The authorities said in a statement that it has appealed for the immediate delivery of fuel to hospitals, but to no avail.

The Israeli army announced on Thursday that it has killed Hussein Fayyad, the leader of Hamas's Beit Hanoun Battalion, inside an underground tunnel in the northern Gazan city of Jabalia.

The operation to kill Fayyad, who was responsible for launching anti-tank missiles towards Israel during the war and launching mortar shells towards towns in northern Gaza, was carried out by the 98th Brigade, along with the Air Force, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement on X.

Earlier in the day, Israel's state-run Kan radio reported that the Israeli army continued its ground operations in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah, as well as in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, during which the army killed several "terrorists," eliminated hostile cells, and seized many weapons and rocket launching platforms.

International community's recognition 

Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on Wednesday their official recognition of Palestine as a state. The decision came amid international outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel's military operation.

Global reactions to the recognition varied, with dozens of countries welcoming the decision.

Josep Borrell, EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on Wednesday that he would "relentlessly work" to promote a common EU position on the two-state solution.

"I take note of today's announcement by 2 EU Member States — Ireland and Spain — and by Norway on the recognition of the State of Palestine," Josep Borrell said on X.

"Within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, I will relentlessly work with all Member States to promote a common EU position based on a 2-state solution," Borrell added. 

The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the recognition sends the right message to the Palestinians that the world is willing to defend their right to self-determination and to be an independent state.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged countries that have not taken this step to push forward with recognizing a Palestine state to uphold the values of justice and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the decision, saying that this represents a step toward implementing the two-state solution.

Qatar welcomed the recognition and considered this a significant step in supporting the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability in the region, said the Qatari Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

In response to the news that Spain and Ireland said they are going to recognize the Palestinian State, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-state solution and was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as early as possible and promoting a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, the spokesperson added.

(With input from agencies)