In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 44 Palestinians, including over a dozen children, according to reports. The attacks came shortly after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to prepare for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in Rafah, raising fears of a ground invasion.

The announcement by Netanyahu caused panic and concern among diplomats, as more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million population is crammed into Rafah. Many had previously followed Israeli evacuation orders that now cover two-thirds of the territory. It remains unclear where these displaced individuals would seek refuge if forced to leave Rafah.

Israel claims that Rafah, which shares a border with Egypt, is the last stronghold for the Hamas militant group in Gaza after months of conflict. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warns that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have "disastrous consequences," alleging that Israel aims to push Palestinians out of their land. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have also expressed concerns about potential disaster and serious repercussions if Israel proceeds with an offensive in Rafah.

Notably, even the United States has voiced increasing friction with Netanyahu, with officials stating that an invasion of Rafah without plans for the civilian population would lead to a catastrophe. Israeli airstrikes have been ongoing in Rafah, with civilians previously being instructed to seek shelter there from the ongoing ground combat in Khan Younis.

Overnight into Saturday, three airstrikes on homes in the Rafah area resulted in the deaths of 28 people, including 10 children. Families have been torn apart, with one resident, Fadel al-Ghannam, losing his son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. Al-Ghannam fears further devastation if a ground invasion of Rafah occurs, highlighting the world's silence on the matter.

In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah killed at least 11 people, including three children. The attack targeted civilians, according to witnesses and neighbors. Additionally, two policemen and three senior officers from the civil police were killed in two other strikes in the city.

The violence has also extended to Khan Younis, where Israeli forces fired upon Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility in the area. At least two people were killed and five wounded in the attack. According to Ahmed Maghrabi, a physician at the hospital, Israeli tanks have reached the hospital gates, making it difficult for medical staff to move between buildings.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that, within the past 24 hours, the bodies of 117 people killed in Israeli airstrikes have been brought to hospitals, bringing the overall death toll from the offensive to 28,064, with the majority being women and children. Over 67,000 people have been wounded in the ongoing conflict.

Israel launched its offensive in response to an attack by thousands of Hamas militants who crossed the border into southern Israel on October 7. The Israeli government holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties due to their tactics of fighting from within civilian areas. However, U.S. officials have called for more targeted airstrikes, criticizing the extent of Israel's response as "over the top."

The situation at the Rafah border crossing, which is a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid, remains tense. Egypt, warning against any influx of Palestinians into its territory, states that it could threaten the four-decade-old peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed deep concern, labeling an Israeli offensive on Rafah as a "humanitarian catastrophe in the making," emphasizing that the people of Gaza cannot simply disappear. The offensive has caused widespread destruction, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

In the midst of the ongoing violence, two medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent were found dead in a destroyed ambulance in Gaza City, after going missing 12 days ago. They had been on a rescue mission to retrieve 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who was traveling with her family to heed evacuation orders. The Palestinian Red Crescent states that the rescue mission was coordinated with Israel's military, but there has been no comment from Israeli authorities on the matter.