Gaza City, Gaza Strip – A series of explosions and fires devastated a camp for displaced persons in Rafah late on Sunday, following what authorities in Gaza identified as Israeli air strikes. At least 35 people were reported dead, with many more injured, according to local health officials. The Israeli military confirmed striking a “Hamas compound” in Rafah around the same timeframe but stated that they were investigating the specific incident at a UN-run “safe zone” in the Tal as-Sultan neighborhood of the city.
During the attack, two senior Hamas figures, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, were killed in the strike on Tal as-Sultan, both commanders responsible for the group’s militant operations in the West Bank, as reported by the Israeli military. Palestinian eyewitnesses captured footage on social media showing fires engulfing makeshift tents as survivors struggled to rescue those trapped in the flames.
Earlier in the day, the Palestinian militant group launched long-range rockets towards central Israel, reaching as far as Tel Aviv, marking the first such attack in months. The escalation of hostilities led to eight rockets being fired from Rafah, with Israeli troops nearby. This move was attributed to Hamas’s concern for their weapons stores by Daniel Hagari, chief spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces.
Rafah, known as the last stronghold for Hamas in Gaza, witnessed a significant Israeli military offensive earlier this month, prompting an influx of around 1.2 million people seeking shelter from attacks elsewhere in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations reported that over 800,000 individuals had already fled to areas north of Rafah, designated as “safe zones,” albeit lacking basic necessities like clean water and medical assistance.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensified further, prompting discussions between Egypt, Israel, and international allies to resume aid deliveries to the region. Despite calls from the International Court of Justice to cease military operations in Rafah and reopen the Rafah crossing to Egypt for aid distribution, Israel continued its offensive. The situation drew condemnation and concern from global leaders, with the EU’s chief diplomat describing it as “beyond words”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained steadfast in rejecting calls for a ceasefire, vowing to achieve “total victory” against Hamas. The conflict escalated as Israeli forces gained control of a significant portion of Gaza’s frontier with Egypt and continued their incursion into Rafah to eliminate remaining Hamas battalions and disrupt smuggling routes from Egypt.
Efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, including negotiations for a potential ceasefire deal, saw progress with meetings between Israeli and international intelligence representatives in Paris. The ongoing violence in Gaza and the surrounding region remained a focal point of international concern, with the hope for a resolution to the conflict growing increasingly uncertain.