Palestinian health workers reported that Israeli airstrikes on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 35 people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, with tents for displaced people being hit and many individuals trapped in the debris. The majority of the casualties were women and children, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry.
These attacks occurred just two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to cease its military offensive in Rafah, where a large portion of Gaza’s population had sought refuge before the Israeli incursion earlier this month. Despite many fleeing the area, tens of thousands of people remained.
Footage from the scene of the largest airstrike displayed extensive damage. The Israeli army confirmed the strike, claiming it targeted a Hamas installation and killed two senior Hamas militants. Reports of civilian harm were under investigation. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was present in Rafah on Sunday, being briefed on the ongoing operations there.
A spokesperson from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that the death toll may rise as search and rescue efforts continued in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. This particular location had been identified by Israel as a “humanitarian area,” despite not being included in the earlier evacuation orders.
The airstrike followed Hamas firing a series of rockets from Gaza, causing air raid sirens to sound in Tel Aviv for the first time in months. The Israel military confirmed intercepting some of the projectiles launched from Rafah into Israel.
Earlier in the day, aid trucks entered Gaza from southern Israel via the Kerem Shalom crossing as part of a new arrangement bypassing Egypt’s closed Rafah crossing. However, the accessibility of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, was uncertain due to the ongoing conflict.
The United Nations expressed concerns over the humanitarian operation being at risk, urging Israel to facilitate the safe delivery of supplies. Egypt refuses to reopen its side of the Rafah crossing until control is returned to Palestinians.
Amid the escalating conflict, the war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant casualties among Palestinians, with thousands fleeing their homes and facing severe hunger. Hamas initiated the conflict with an attack into Israel on October 7, escalating tensions and violence.
The situation has also intensified in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where clashes resulted in the death of a Palestinian teenager. Southern Gaza remains isolated from aid, while northern Gaza receives limited assistance through land routes.
Additionally, Israel detained an individual over a video where he threatens mutiny, expressing support for Netanyahu amidst the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military condemned any form of military insubordination in response to the video.
