Israeli Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza Strip, Health Workers Say

Israeli Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza City of Rafah, Including Women and Children

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian health workers reported that Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed at least 35 people on Sunday. Among the casualties were women and children, with dozens more wounded in the attacks.

The airstrikes targeted tents for displaced people in Rafah, and there were reports of numerous people trapped in the flaming debris. The attacks come two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to end its military offensive in Rafah, where a significant portion of Gaza’s population had sought shelter before the incursion earlier this month. Many remain in the area, while others have fled.

Footage from the scene of the largest airstrike showed significant destruction, with Israel confirming the strike and stating that it targeted a Hamas installation, killing two senior Hamas militants. The Israeli army is investigating reports of civilian harm. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was briefed on the situation in Rafah, where operations are deepening.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society indicated that the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. This area was designated as a “humanitarian area” by Israel, though it was not among the locations ordered to be evacuated earlier in the month.

The airstrikes followed a rocket barrage launched by Hamas from Gaza, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months. Hamas claimed responsibility for the rockets, with Israel intercepting some and destroying the launcher.

Humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza from Israel under a new agreement to bypass the Rafah crossing, which has been largely inaccessible due to the ongoing offensive. However, access to the aid, including medical supplies, remains uncertain due to the fighting.

The escalating conflict has left tens of thousands displaced, severe hunger widespread, and parts of Gaza experiencing famine. The war has also heightened tensions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces continue.