Israeli forces took control of Gaza’s Rafah border crossing despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated proposal.

This move prompted concerns from the UN about aid flow disruptions to Palestinians in Gaza, particularly amid reports of famine in the north.

The incursion marks Israel’s first full control of the crossing since its 2005 withdrawal, though it has maintained a blockade with Egypt’s cooperation, the Associated Press reported.

Israeli leaders view the capture as a step towards weakening Hamas, but the US has expressed concern over the potential humanitarian impact on the 1.3 million Palestinians in Rafah.

Despite Hamas initially accepting the ceasefire, fighting forced residents to flee, underscoring the precariousness of the situation.

Written by B.C. Begley