Middle East. Israel takes control of the Gaza-Egypt border in Rafah

Follow our live blog on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict here

the army of Israel said Tuesday that it had taken “operational control” of the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.in the south of the enclave.

The Rafah crossing, located south of Gaza City, was taken by Israeli tanks that are part of an armored brigade, the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian authorities said.

Images released by the Israeli press show an Israeli flag flying on the side of the border with Gaza.

The Israeli military said it decided to take control of the crossing after receiving information that was “being used for terrorist purposes” by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, although without providing any evidence.

Israeli forces enter Rafah after Hamas agrees to ceasefire

Israeli forces previously alleged that Hamas had used the area around the border to launch dozens of missiles that killed four Israeli soldiers near Kerem Shalom, which connects southeastern Gaza with Israeli territory.

Wael Abu Omar, spokesman for the agency responsible for the borders of the government of the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas since 2007, said that the Rafah crossing, the main entry point for humanitarian aid, was closed.

“The entire western area [de Rafah] It has become a theater of operations since yesterday [segunda-feira]. The shelling has not stopped,” Abu Omar said, adding that border personnel fled due to the Israeli offensive.

On Monday night, The Israeli military said it killed 20 Hamas militants in “targeted strikes.” in eastern Rafah, where three networks of tunnels belonging to the Islamist group were discovered.

The Israeli War Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced on Monday that it has decided to continue the offensive in Rafah, while agreeing to continue negotiations for a truce with Hamas.