At least 17 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes on refugee camps

At least 17 Palestinians in two of Gaza's refugee camps were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday. Heavy bombardments were reported in several areas as the Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. The airstrikes had hit Al-Nuseirat and Al-Bureij refugee camps. 

Israeli tanks were operating inside Tel Al-Sultan, Al-Izba, and Zurub areas in Rafah's west, as well as Shaboura at the heart of the city.

The troops also occupied the eastern neighbourhoods and outskirts as well as the border with Egypt and the Rafah border crossing. 

The Israeli military in a statement said it was continuing "precise, intelligence-based activity" in Rafah, killing many Palestinian gunmen over the past day in close-range combat and seized weapons.

The air force struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip in the past day, it added.

According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 37,372 Palestinians have been killed and around 85,452 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza. 

However, the tensions along the West Bank are also increasing causing grave concern among the leaders. 

The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday warned that the rights situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was drastically deteriorating, while there had been "unconscionable death and suffering" in Gaza.

Over 500 Palestinians including 133 children had been killed by Israeli security forces since October last year raising concerns of unlawful killings. 

Israel has intensified its Rafah attacks as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved the war cabinet, tasked with the duty of overseeing the Gaza war.

After war cabinet minister Benny Gantz’s exit, the emergency government was dissolved by the PM. 

According to sources, Netanyahu will be holding consultations about the ongoing war with a small group of ministers including Gallant and the strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, who had been in the war cabinet.