"Israeli Strikes on Rafah Houses Leave 20 Dead, Escalating Israel-Palestine Conflict"

Israeli strikes on the Rafah area in southern Gaza have killed at least 20 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Fierce gun battles have also been reported in Khan Younis, with Israeli tanks and planes bombing areas near the city center. The World Health Organization has expressed concern over the functioning of hospitals and the safety of displaced people in Gaza. Meanwhile, the United States has announced a multinational security initiative to safeguard commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden against attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement, which has targeted vessels in support of Hamas.