Israeli tanks forged deeper into eastern Rafah, reaching some residential districts, stepping up an offensive in the southern border city where more than a million people had been sheltering after being displaced in seven months of conflict, Reuters reports.

“The tanks advanced this morning west of Salahuddin road into the Brzail and Al-Jneina neighbourhoods. They are in the streets inside the built-up area and there are clashes,” one resident told Reuters via a chat app. Video on social media showed one tank on George Street in Al-Jneina neighbourhood. Reuters could not verify the video.

Hamas’s armed wing said it had destroyed an Israeli troop carrier with an Al-Yassin 105 missile in the eastern Al-Salam neighbourhood, killing some crew members and wounding others.

There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military.

Editorial

Updated 01 Aug, 2026

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