Israeli planes bombed the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on Tuesday, even as an Israeli military spokesman encouraged Palestinians to use the border post to flee to safety.

Independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, citing an employee at the border checkpoint, reported that Egypt had closed the crossing gate after a warning that Israel would bomb it.

Israeli planes bombed the crossing Monday evening and again on Tuesday after the damage was repaired, Mada Masr and Palestinian media reported.

An estimated 700 Palestinians have been killed in reprisal bombings in Gaza after Hamas gunmen launched a stunning attack on Israel on Saturday, massacring an estimated 900 Israelis.

More than 127,000 Palestinians have been displaced by the ongoing bombing, the U.N. said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, suggested that Palestinians seeking refuge from the bombing could “get out” of Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

Hecht’s office later issued a statement: “Clarification: The Rafah crossing was open yesterday, but now it is closed.” The clarification didn’t mention a bombing.

Gaza’s Hamas-controlled interior ministry said in a statement that Egypt had warned staff on the Gaza side of the border crossing to evacuate due to an imminent bombing. Two Palestinian employees were injured, the ministry said.

The U.N. and humanitarian organizations are working to establish a humanitarian corridor through the Rafah crossing to bring medical supplies to Gaza. Israel on Monday declared a “total siege” of the territory.

    • @bl4ckblooc
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      121 year ago

      I’ve literally said that both sides are wrong multiple times in this thread; the people simping for Israel are pretending that Israeli policy on Palestinians( you know, apartheid) has had nothing to do with this and the attack is unprecedented on a country that has done nothing wrong. Both sides are shit right now, but this is a direct consequence of what Israel has done for decades.

        • @SoleInvictus
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          21 year ago

          I mean, that’s absolutely true if you just make shit up to suit your argument.