Rafah is a city in the Gaza Strip with 171,889 residents in 2017; it sits near the Egypt border and has been a focal point in Gaza conflict dynamics.
Nickolay Mladenov has told the UN Security Council that implementation of the US-led Board of Peace Gaza roadmap has stalled because Hamas has refused to disarm and Israel is maintaining control of roughly 60% of Gaza. Daily strikes and constrained aid are persisting, reconstruction finance is drying up, and diplomacy is not completing the transition to the second phase.
War-driven destitution has spurred a rise in early marriages in Gaza, with parents saying they marry off daughters aged 13–16 for protection and aid. AP findings cite multiple girls reporting rape and abuse; 2024–25 data show under-18 marriages rising despite earlier declines.
The Israeli Defense Forces have intensified strikes against Hamas and allied groups in Gaza, targeting commanders and operational cells. Across the Gaza Strip, the IDF says it is destroying weaponry, reconciling with ceasefire terms, and pursuing a broader security objective. Palestinian casualties and continued political negotiations shape the evolving conflict.
The Board of Peace has convened with international figures to map a Gaza plan aimed at isolating Hamas and kicking off a “temporary reconstruction” in Hamas-free zones. Donors have balked at funding, Israeli political gridlock persists, and legal immunity concerns shadow the mission as talks race to preserve momentum.
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile as Israeli strikes persist and Palestinian casualties rise. Multiple incidents near Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis have killed civilians, including a 13-year-old, and drawn international concern. Authorities say casualties continue to mount since the October 2023 war, despite a formal ceasefire.
Israeli airstrikes have continued in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect in October, with casualties reported across Jabaliya, Khan Younis, and Rafah. Palestinian health officials say the toll includes civilians and militants, while Israel says strikes target militants and infrastructure. The death toll stands at about 1,100 to 1,123 Palestinians, with five Israeli soldiers killed since the ceasefire.
Israeli strikes in Gaza City have killed four people, including a public-relations official for the Egyptian Relief Committee, as a World Cup screening event unfolds. Dozens are injured; ceasefire remains fragile while fighting continues across the Gaza Strip.