Brazil has condemned the start of operations by Israeli armed forces in the city of Rafah, saying it could compromise ongoing ceasefire efforts, Al Jazeera reports.

Israel has chosen to “deliberately intensify the conflict in an area known to have a high concentration of the civilian population”, disregarding calls from the international community, including its closest allies, a Brazilian foreign ministry statement said.

The Israeli military took control of the vital Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, pushing into the southern Gaza town after a night of air strikes and as prospects for a ceasefire deal hang in the balance.

Opinion

Editorial

Maritime alliance
Updated 01 Aug, 2026

Maritime alliance

AS the US-Iran war drags on, new battle lines are being drawn. The pro-US Gulf Arab monarchies and Iran have enjoyed...
Local governance
01 Aug, 2026

Local governance

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech at a business summit on Thursday has stirred a hornet’s nest. His...
Murders in Balochistan
01 Aug, 2026

Murders in Balochistan

GOOD news is scarce in Balochistan. Seven labourers were abducted and gunned down in Turbat city recently. Four...
Expanding conflict
31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
Spoils and spats
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
Unfair tax system
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...