Rafah, May 23 (RHC)-- Heavy fighting has raged around Gaza's far southern city near the border with Egypt, the last part of Gaza to face a ground invasion, where an AFP team reported more air and artillery strikes in the early morning hours.

Intense street battles continue in Gaza’s southern Rafah and northern Jabalia as Israeli troops advance into both areas, packed with terrified civilians.

Israel’s military says its Nahal Brigade joined a division of troops surrounding Rafah as it plans to attack “terror targets” deep in the city, adding that it will prevent “harm to the civilian population as much as possible” -- while the Israeli military is carrying out a massacre.

The Unite Nations says displaced “families living among the rubble” after more than 800,000 Palestinians flee Rafah as Israeli forces attack.

At least 35,709 people have been killed and 79,990 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7th.\