Rafah: Gaza officials reported that Israeli airstrikes on a center for displaced people resulted in the deaths of at least 35 individuals, including many women and children, in a “massacre” near the southern city of Rafah on Sunday. The Israeli army stated that the target was a Hamas compound.
The health ministry in Gaza, administered by Hamas, confirmed the casualties, emphasizing that the strikes left dozens injured. The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza described the incident as a “horrific massacre,” asserting that the strike hit a center operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Israel’s military response claimed that their aircraft targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, killing senior Hamas officials Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties resulting from the strike and ensuing fire and indicated that the incident is under review.
Sunday’s strikes followed the launch of at least eight rockets from Rafah towards central Israel, marking the first such attacks on Tel Aviv in months. The ongoing conflict has intensified around Rafah, where the Israeli military began a ground operation in early May despite concerns about civilian safety.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that its ambulance crews had transported numerous casualties from the Rafah strikes. The Palestinian presidency in the West Bank condemned the attack as a “heinous massacre,” accusing Israeli forces of deliberately targeting displaced people’s tents.
Gaza’s civil defense agency indicated that at least 50 people were killed or injured in the strikes, in an area home to approximately 100,000 displaced individuals. Hamas called for Palestinians to “rise up and march” against what they termed the Israeli army’s “massacre” in Rafah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of a war cabinet meeting, vowed to continue the offensive, rejecting Hamas’s demand for an end to the conflict. Discussions in the war cabinet included considerations for a potential hostage-release deal.
EU members Ireland and Spain, along with Norway, announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, drawing sharp criticism from Israel. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized the need for a strong Palestinian Authority, advocating for support for Gaza’s people and rebuilding PA institutions.
US President Joe Biden has pushed for renewed international efforts to halt the war, which has entered its eighth month. The October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in over 1,170 Israeli deaths and the capture of 252 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory actions have led to significant casualties in Gaza, with at least 35,984 deaths reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
The conflict has sparked international outrage, with families of hostages urging Netanyahu to secure their release and Washington adopting a tougher stance on its ally. The UN has warned of a looming famine in Gaza, where many hospitals have ceased operations. The International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have called for accountability and cessation of actions that could lead to the destruction of the Palestinian population.
