Israel’s army flattens Rafah, amid fears of mass confinement in Gaza

Palestinians residents report that Israel's army is demolishing the remaining ruins of Rafah, located on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip.

There are growing fears that this is part of a broader plan to force the population into a large confinement camp on barren land.

Since Israel imposed its longest-ever total blockade on Gaza nearly two months ago, no food or medical supplies have reached the territory's 2.3 million residents.

Israel broke the ceasefire in mid-March and resumed bombing Gaza, seizing large areas of land and forcing residents from so-called "buffer zones" around Gaza's borders, including all of Rafah, which constitutes around 20 percent of the Strip.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Saturday that the military is establishing a new "humanitarian zone" in Rafah, where civilians will be relocated after security checks to exclude Hamas fighters.