"Israeli Strikes Escalate in Southern Gaza, Heightening Fear of Ground Invasion in Rafah"

Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza killed at least 13 people, including women and children, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas' ceasefire terms and vowed to expand the offensive. The offensive, which has killed over 27,000 Palestinians and displaced many, aims for "total victory" over Hamas. International aid organizations warn of a humanitarian catastrophe if the offensive expands into Rafah, where hundreds of thousands are crowded into squalid conditions. Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of remaining hostages continue, with the United States, Qatar, and Egypt involved in negotiations.