Israeli forces escalated attacks across Gaza, striking Rafah’s tunnel area and killing civilians in Maghazi and Khan Yunis despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Israeli occupation forces escalated military operations across the Gaza Strip early Friday, concentrating airstrikes and heavy fire on Rafah while carrying out attacks in central and southern areas, in continued violation of the ceasefire in effect since October 10, 2025.
Rafah Airstrikes and Tunnel Claims
Israeli fighter jets and helicopters carried out multiple airstrikes overnight and into Friday morning on areas east of Rafah, accompanied by heavy gunfire from armored vehicles and helicopter fire across the city.
The Israeli army claimed that eight Palestinians were detected exiting an underground tunnel east of Rafah during the night. According to the army, an airstrike killed three of them, while additional strikes were launched on areas where others attempted to flee. The army said it is continuing search and assessment operations in the area.
Palestinian sources have not independently confirmed the Israeli claims,
The escalation comes as the issue of Palestinians trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah remains unresolved. Hamas said in late 2025 that it had held talks with mediators to allow approximately 200 fighters from its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, to exit a Rafah tunnel safely, but said Israel did not respond.
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Civilian Casualties in Central Gaza
In central Gaza, medical sources at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed that two Palestinians, Walid Hassan Darwish and Yasser Mohammad Abu Shahada, were killed when Israeli aircraft bombed a gathering of civilians in Al-Maghazi refugee camp.
Witnesses reported that an Israeli drone targeted the area near the Abu Namous roundabout east of the camp, an area from which Israeli forces had withdrawn under the ceasefire. Several others were injured.
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Displaced Families Targeted in Khan Yunis
In southern Gaza, at least six Palestinians, including a pregnant woman, were injured after Israeli warplanes bombed a tent sheltering displaced families in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis.
Medical sources at the Al-Hilal Field Hospital and Nasser Hospital confirmed the injuries. Anadolu Agency reported that the attack targeted tents housing civilians displaced by earlier Israeli assaults.
Israeli military vehicles and helicopters also opened heavy and indiscriminate fire east of Khan Yunis, in areas under Israeli control.
Israel’s so-called Board of Peace plans to build a concentration camp for 25,000 Palestinians in Rafah, calling it a 'planned community' pic.twitter.com/y630x3sene
— HatsOff (@HatsOffff) January 30, 2026
Naval Fire and Widespread Gunfire
Israeli naval vessels pursued Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Gaza City, opening fire toward the shore, according to local sources.
Israeli helicopters also opened fire toward Rafah, while additional gunfire targeted eastern Gaza City and eastern Khan Yunis. On Thursday evening, Israeli forces carried out gunfire attacks and detonated residential buildings in Rafah, according to local reports.
Palestinian mother Sabreen Al-Da’meh is waiting for the Rafah crossing to open so she can donate her kidney to her daughter, amid the Gaza healthcare system’s collapse and severe shortages of medical equipment following the Israeli genocide. pic.twitter.com/cJJUIH80Qw
— Al-Jarmaq News (@Aljarmaqnetnews) January 29, 2026
Rafah Crossing Remains Under Occupation
Israeli media reported conflicting timelines for reopening the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Israeli outlets cited military sources saying the crossing may open to pedestrian traffic as early as Sunday, pending operational readiness.
Israel has occupied the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing since May 2024.
Breaking:
A newly released image of Rafah.There is not one building left.
Total annihilation.This has never happened before.!! pic.twitter.com/eQ05eTqfnI
— MO (@Abu_Salah9) January 29, 2026
Ceasefire Violations Continue
Friday’s escalation is part of near-daily Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Since the agreement took effect, Israeli forces have killed at least 513 Palestinians and injured 1,356 others, according to Palestinian media reports.
The ceasefire ended a two-year-long Israeli genocidal war launched in October 2023, which killed more than 71,667 Palestinians, wounded over 171,343, and devastated approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimates reconstruction costs at nearly $70 billion.
Israeli military operations across Gaza have continued despite ongoing discussions regarding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
(PC, AJA, AA, QNN, WAFA, Palestinian Media)
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