The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack on Hamas positions in Rafah, in southern Gaza, began Monday with a fight to seize two key strategic points: the Rafah-Egypt border crossing, and the Philadelphi road along the Egyptian border.
Israeli forces, including artillery and armored forces, encountered moderate resistance from Hamas fighters as they battled for several hours along the three kilometers between the Gaza-Israel border and the Rafah border crossing.
There were no Israeli casualties reported, though several dozen Palestinian casualties were said to have occurred.
Images and videos on social media showed an Israeli tank arriving at the Rafah crossing, then the Palestinian flag being replaced by the Israeli flag — the first time in nearly 20 years that Israel has physically controlled
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