Israel bombs Gaza mosques, detains dozens of Palestinians

Rafah, Gaza Strip

NT Bureau, Agencies: Israeli forces struck the southern Gaza town of Rafah twice, residents said Thursday, sowing fear in one of the last places where civilians have sought refuge after Israel widened its offensive against Palestinians to areas already packed with displaced people.

United Nations officials say there are no safe places in Gaza. Heavy fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis has displaced tens of thousands of people and cut most of Gaza off from deliveries of food, water and other vital aid.

More than 80% of the territory’s population has already fled their homes. Israeli forces detained dozens of Palestinian men from UN-run schools in northern Gaza, stripping them down to their underwear.