Whenever a high-ranking official, whether European or American, comes to the region we see a surge in air attacks and mass bombardment, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports from Rafah, southern Gaza.

Since the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, we’ve seen more Palestinians being killed at record numbers.

More women and children are being killed. More residential buildings and other public facilities — including hospitals and schools — are being destroyed.

Every time there is a visit [by a foreign official to the region] people in Gaza make similar observations. That’s why they have been largely skeptical of these latest visits of high American officials to the region.