Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum has said that roughly 1.5 million Palestinians seeking refuge in Rafah have witnessed an increase in Israeli military operations.

In particular, military surveillance quadcopter drones have been active in the skies, he said, as the loud buzzing sound of one hovering overhead could be heard.

“We’ve been hearing this buzzing since the early hours of this morning,” he said, adding that this could indicate that Rafah could face a further “intensification” of Israeli military efforts.

He said the area has already experienced heavy bombardments, and that the increased surveillance could also signal “a potential military incursion” similar to the ground operations in Khan Younis, which is also located south of the enclave.