Israel bombs the Gaza Strip from north to south | Live coverage

Fighting and strong explosions in Rafah

Deadly Israeli bombings targeted the Gaza Strip, notably the town of Rafah, on Sunday, the day after an appeal by international mediators to Israel and Hamas to conclude a ceasefire, after almost eight months of war.

Despite protests from the international community, the Israeli army continues its offensive in Rafah, a border town with Egypt in the south of the Palestinian territory, launched on May 7 in order, according to it, to destroy the last battalions of the Islamist movement.

After the presentation on Friday by American President Joe Biden of an Israeli plan for a ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his determination to continue the war until the elimination of Hamas.

Around a million Palestinians, according toUNhave already fled Rafah in the face of advancing Israeli troops.

Thousands of families were forced to flee. The 36 shelters in Rafah of the agencyUN for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) are now empty.

The Israeli offensive left at least 60 people dead in 24 hours in the besieged territory, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government.

On Sunday, witnesses told theAFP having seen Israeli military vehicles in western and central Rafah. They reported heavy explosions, fighting, continuous shooting from drones and Apache helicopters.

Very difficult to come to the aid of civilians

The Palestinian Red Crescent said it was receiving calls for help from civilians, but added that it was very difficult to reach them, due to continued Israeli bombing.

In the north of the territory, three Palestinians were killed, including a child, in a bombing on Gaza City, according to a hospital Source.

In the center, the sectors of Deir Al-Balah, Bureij and Nousseirat were targeted by strikes.

In the devastated landscape of the Jabaliya camp in the north, residents, returning at the end of an Israeli ground operation, searched the ruins for a few belongings.

We want to reclaim our lives. We refuse to stay in schools and shelters. We will clean as much as we can and we will stay heredeclared to theAFP Fares Jabr, a resident of the camp.

France Media Agency