At least 40 fatalities and numerous injuries were reported on Sunday evening as Israeli forces conducted airstrikes on tents in northwestern Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian media.
Reports from the Palestinian official news agency WAFA indicate that Israeli forces launched approximately eight rockets towards a newly established camp, densely populated with thousands of displaced individuals near UNRWA warehouses.
Local sources, speaking to Xinhua news agency, described the airstrike as severe and unprecedented, causing fires in tents made of plastic and tin, as well as damaging civilian vehicles. Video footage circulated on social media platforms depicted intense flames engulfing inhabited tents, including those housing children and women.
The difficult terrain posed significant challenges for Civil Defense and ambulance crews in retrieving bodies, as mentioned by sources familiar with the situation.
According to Palestinian security sources, the area, heavily populated with Gazans, had been previously designated by the Israeli military as a “safe area.”
In response to the incident, Hamas condemned the bombing as a violation of the International Court of Justice’s decision demanding cessation of aggression against Rafah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement confirming that an IDF aircraft targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, citing the presence of significant Hamas operatives. The statement asserted that the strike adhered to international law, using precise munitions based on intelligence indicating Hamas’ use of the area.
The Israeli airstrike occurred shortly after the Hamas armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, launched a significant rocket barrage from Rafah towards Tel Aviv, marking the first such incident in months.
On May 7, the Israeli military announced its control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, located south of the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt. This action has led to disruptions in aid deliveries to Gaza.
Rafah is considered by Israel as a key stronghold for Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
