In a tragic turn of events, Israeli airstrikes have taken the lives of at least 44 Palestinians, including more than a dozen children, in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The airstrikes occurred on Saturday, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a possible ground invasion and the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from the area. Netanyahu's statement raised concerns among diplomats and sparked panic among the residents.

Rafah, situated on the Gaza-Egypt border, is believed to be the last stronghold of the Hamas militant group in Gaza, following four months of intense conflict triggered by an attack by Hamas on October 7th. However, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has warned against an Israeli ground offensive on Rafah, predicting "disastrous consequences" and accusing Israel of attempting to displace Palestinians from their land. Shoukry also stated that Egypt is actively working towards achieving a permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages taken during the October attack.

Tensions between Israel and the United States are on the rise, as U.S. officials have expressed concerns that an invasion of Rafah without a plan for the civilian population would result in a humanitarian disaster. Israeli airstrikes in Rafah have been a daily occurrence lately, with civilians being instructed to seek shelter there from the ongoing ground combat in the nearby town of Khan Younis.

The airstrikes conducted overnight on Saturday claimed the lives of 28 people, including 10 children, with multiple members of three families being killed. A devastated Fadel al-Ghannam, who lost his son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, expressed fear for the potential consequences of a ground invasion.

Another Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah later on Saturday killed at least 11 people, including three children, according to the head of Rafah municipality, Ahmed al-Sawaf. Two other strikes targeted policemen and senior officers in the civil police force. In neighboring Khan Younis, Israeli forces opened fire on Nasser Hospital, resulting in the death of at least two people and injuries to five others. The hospital, housing medical staff, patients, and displaced individuals, has become nearly impossible to navigate due to the intense fire.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the past 24 hours witnessed the arrival of 117 bodies to hospitals, bringing the overall death toll from the offensive to 28,064, predominantly women and children. Over 67,000 people have been wounded. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas militants crossed the border into southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in the death of 1,300 people and the abduction of 250 others.

Israel contends that Hamas is responsible for civilian casualties, arguing that they operate within civilian areas. However, U.S. officials have called for more targeted strikes. President Joe Biden criticized Israel's response, stating that it is "over the top." Netanyahu's office maintains that eliminating Hamas requires addressing their presence in Rafah.

The situation in Rafah has raised concerns about the impact on the four-decade-old peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Any movement of Palestinians into Egypt could jeopardize the treaty. The Rafah border crossing, a significant entry point for humanitarian aid, has mostly been closed. Prior to the conflict, Rafah had a population of approximately 280,000, but it is now home to an additional 1.4 million people who have fled fighting in other areas.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has warned that an Israeli offensive in Rafah would lead to a "humanitarian catastrophe." The destruction caused by the Israeli offensive has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, particularly in northern Gaza.

In a tragic incident in Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood, two medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent were discovered dead in a destroyed ambulance. They had gone missing 12 days ago while attempting to rescue 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who was traveling with her family to comply with evacuation orders. The rescue mission was allegedly coordinated with the Israeli military, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

As tensions continue to escalate, the world watches on, grappling with the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.