Israeli forces launched an attack on a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians near the southern city of Rafah in Gaza on Friday, resulting in at least 25 deaths and injuring another 50, according to emergency and health workers in the area. The strike, which occurred close to a Red Cross field hospital, has drawn significant international concern and condemnation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 22 deceased individuals and 45 wounded were brought to their field hospital following the attack. The ICRC noted that the "heavy-caliber projectiles" also damaged their office, which is situated near tents accommodating hundreds of displaced civilians, including hospital workers.
Eyewitnesses and relatives of those killed told The Associated Press that Israeli forces fired a second volley of shots, targeting individuals as they emerged from their tents, exacerbating the already significant casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed these figures, indicating the severe impact of the attack on the local population.
A spokesperson for Civil Defense first responders in Rafah detailed that the attacks targeted two locations in a coastal area near the Red Cross hospital. These locations appeared to be outside the Israeli-designated safe zone along the Mediterranean coast, known as Muwasi. The Israeli military has stated that the incident is under review and claimed there was "no indication that a strike was carried out by the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]" within the specified area.
This incident is part of the broader conflict that has ravaged Gaza since early October. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 85,000 wounded. The ongoing violence has displaced an estimated 1.7 million people, with the northern part of Gaza experiencing a severe famine.
The current conflict began when the Palestinian militant group Hamas conducted a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 250 individuals. In response, Israel launched a military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas's military infrastructure, leading to intense and sustained hostilities.
Adding to the tragedy, further Israeli air strikes in Gaza City have killed dozens more. Hamas officials reported that two air strikes on buildings in Gaza City resulted in at least 42 deaths and numerous injuries. The Israeli military acknowledged that its warplanes targeted two Hamas military infrastructure sites but provided no further details at the time.
In the densely populated al-Shati area, one of Gaza's historic refugee camps, a residential block was struck multiple times, killing 24 people, according to the Hamas-run Government Media Office. Another strike in the al-Tuffah area claimed 18 lives. Footage from the scene showed residents desperately searching for survivors amidst the rubble as dust filled the streets.
The human toll of this conflict is staggering. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 37,551 people have been killed since the conflict's escalation. This figure includes a significant number of children, women, and elderly individuals, highlighting the extensive civilian suffering caused by the violence.
