IDF begins ground offensive into Rafah and captures border crossing with Egypt

The IDF has begun its long-awaited ground offensive into Rafah by capturing the border crossing with Egypt. The 401st Tank Brigade moved into Rafah overnight and is now in control of the Gaza side of the border, the IDF said. Video showed tanks rolling into position in the early hours, as the Israelis said 20 militants were killed in the operation and a car full of explosives blown up while driving at a tank. Separately, the IDF’s Givati Brigade cut the Salah al-Din road which connects Rafah to the rest of Gaza. The Israeli Air Force also carried out 50 airstrikes targeting militants in eastern Rafah in the last 24 hours. Benjamin Netanyahu has been threatening to move into Rafah for weeks, the last redoubt of Hamas where its senior leaders are believed to be hiding along with more than 100 hostages still being held by the terror group. But the attack is opposed by Israel’s allies because more than 1million Palestinians displaced from elsewhere in Gaza are sheltering there. Shortly before the attack began, Hamas said it was willing to accept a ceasefire with Israel but Netanyahu dismissed the move which was described by critics as a ‘ploy’. Daily Mail Homepage: Daily Mail Facebook: Daily Mail IG: Daily Mail Snap: Daily Mail Twitter: Daily Mail Pinterest: IDF begins ground offensive into Rafah and captures border crossing with Egypt Get the free Daily Mail mobile app: