Rafah City, Gaza Strip - May 6, 2024

Storyline:
Israel's ground forces have taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, which shares border with Egypt, a radio of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Tuesday.

The report said that the Israeli military will soon issue a statement about it.

Since Monday evening, Israel's ground forces had been pressing towards the Rafah crossing along the Philadelphia Corridor, a 14-kilometer-long narrow strip of land serving as buffer zone on border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, guaranteed by Israeli-Egyptian Peace Treaty of 1979, and planned to control the Gaza side of the crossing, according to Israeli media reports.

The Rafah crossing is strategically important, as it is a major path connecting the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Israel has to control the border and the Rafah crossing to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons from Egypt and prevent a large number of displaced Palestinians from fleeing into Egypt.

Shotlist:
Rafah City, Gaza Strip - May 6, 2024:
1. Israeli tanks massing behind trees;
2. Smoke billowing;
3. Israeli soldiers;
4. Smoke billowing;
5. Trucks carrying aid;
6. Man placing traffic cone on road;
7. Various of Israeli soldiers;
Rafah City, Gaza Strip - May 6, 2024:
8. Various of displaced people fleeing by cars, donkey carts, on foot;
9. Displaced people packing belongings at tent camp before fleeing;
10. Displaced people putting belongings on vehicles;
11. Displaced people packing belongings at tent camp before fleeing.

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