Strikes on Gaza’s southern edge sow fear in one of last areas people can flee to

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP)

Israeli forces struck the southern Gaza town of Rafah twice overnight, residents said, sowing fear in one of the last places where civilians could seek refuge after Israel widened its offensive against Hamas to areas already packed with displaced people.

United Nations officials say there are no safe places in Gaza.