"They had just discussed (an agreement for) peace in the Gaza Strip and Israel invaded [Rafah] again. And the President of Israel says every day, I will not stop, I will not stop, I will not stop, and he keeps killing women and children", stated Lula da Silva referring to the most recent attack by the Israeli army in Gaza.

In a statement released on Monday night, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already announced that Brazil "condemns the start of the operation by the Israeli armed forces against the city of Rafah, in the Gaza Strip".

"By opting, with this military action, to deliberately intensify the conflict in an area known to have a high concentration of the civilian population of Gaza at this time, the Israeli government, once again, shows disregard for the observance of basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law, despite the appeals of the international community, including its closest allies", added the same text.

According to Brazilian diplomacy, the operation in Rafah may compromise the mediation and dialogue efforts underway in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army sent tanks to Rafah and took control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing with Egypt, seven months after the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

The night bombings in the city caused the deaths of at least 27 people, according to information from two Rafah hospitals quoted by AFP.

The day before, the Israeli army had appealed for the withdrawal of tens of thousands of families from the east of the city, where 1.4 million Palestinians live, according to the UN.

The measure was seen as an anticipation of a ground offensive that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to launch to eliminate the last Hamas battalions.

The UN announced today that the Israeli army denied it access to Rafah, the main gateway for humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territory.

The organization also stated that it only has a one-day supply of fuel for humanitarian operations in Gaza, due to the closure of Rafah.

While Israel continues its military operations, new talks are expected to take place in Cairo, after Hamas accepted, on Monday, a draft agreement to try to end the war.

The proposal, presented by the mediating countries, is "very far from the Israeli demands", replied Netanyahu's office.

The current conflict was triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil, on October 7, which caused around 1,200 deaths, according to Israel.

The Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip caused around 34,800 deaths, according to the Hamas government, which has controlled the territory since 2007.

Read Also: "States must pressure Israel" to cease operations in Rafah (Portuguese version)