At least 45 people, including children, were killed in a refugee camp in Gaza’s Rafah following an Israeli airstrike late Sunday, an incident that has sparked international concern and calls for restraint. The strike occurred shortly after Hamas launched a barrage of rockets toward the Tel Aviv area, most of which were intercepted by Israeli defense systems.
Despite an order from the International Court of Justice to halt operations in Rafah, Israeli forces continued their assault on the border town. Rafah has been a crucial entry point for humanitarian aid and a refuge for many Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict.
Fighting in Rafah has displaced over one million Palestinians, many of whom had already been uprooted by the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The ongoing military operations have severely restricted access to humanitarian aid, exacerbating the already dire conditions in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, reported that Israeli shelling around health facilities in Rafah has left only one operational. Humanitarian organizations are warning of an escalating crisis as the primary aid routes into the territory have been disrupted.
The Israeli military confirmed that their aircraft targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of senior Hamas operatives Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and stated that the incident is under investigation.
The United Nations has expressed increasing concern over the potential for widespread malnutrition, particularly in the south of Gaza, as the conflict continues to impede humanitarian efforts.
The ongoing conflict began after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed over 1,170 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel’s retaliatory strikes have resulted in at least 36,096 fatalities in Gaza.
The international community, including the United States, faces growing pressure to address the humanitarian impact of the conflict and push for a resolution that ensures the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides.
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