Israeli strikes on southern Gaza city of Rafah kill 18, mostly children, as US advances aid package

Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 18 people, including 14 children. The latest strikes came as the United States was on track to approve billions of dollars of additional military aid to its close ally. More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge in Rafah from fighting elsewhere. Israel has vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt, despite international calls for restraint, including from the U.S. The first strike killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child. The woman was pregnant, and the doctors managed to save the baby. The second strike killed eight children and two women, all from the same family.