Israel claims control of corridor

Battles intensify in Rafah as delivery of aid supplies in Gaza drops by two-thirds

RAFAH/JERUSALEM — Rafah residents reported intense artillery shelling and gunfire on Thursday in Gaza's far-southern city as Israel said it had seized a strategic corridor on the Palestinian territory's border with Egypt.

The Israeli military launched its assault in Rafah in early May despite international concerns over the fate of Palestinian civilians sheltering there.

A strike over the weekend that started a fire and killed dozens in a displacement camp drew a wave of fresh condemnation, including a social media campaign with the slogan "All eyes on Rafah" that has been shared by tens of millions of users.