In a devastating dawn attack, Israeli forces conducted an airstrike on Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday, resulting in the loss of at least 12 Palestinian lives, as reported by Gaza medics. The strike occurred amidst ongoing clashes in various areas across the coastal enclave.
The Israeli offensive persisted in Rafah following the announcement that its forces had gained control of a buffer zone along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt. This strategic capture effectively extended Israel’s authority over Gaza’s entire land frontier, disrupting a key route used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas for arms smuggling during the prolonged seven-month conflict.
According to Gaza medical sources, the victims of the airstrike in Rafah were civilians, including individuals attempting to retrieve the body of a civilian in the city center. Additionally, another Palestinian civilian fell victim to an airstrike in Al-Shati refugee camp, located west of Gaza City in the north of the densely populated enclave.
While Israel acknowledged clashes in various regions of Gaza, it refrained from immediate comment on the reported fatalities in Rafah, where a significant number of displaced Palestinians had sought refuge earlier in the conflict. The communication infrastructure in Rafah was also disrupted, with telecommunication services being cut off, as confirmed by the Palestinian telecommunications company Jawa.
Despite an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to cease attacks, Israel continued its raids on Rafah. The ICJ also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Since the onset of the conflict, the casualties in Gaza have been devastating, with over 36,000 Palestinians losing their lives, including 53 in the past 24 hours alone, according to the Hamas-run enclave’s health ministry. Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas incursions into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in casualties and abductions, as per Israeli reports.
Amidst the ongoing violence, the Israeli military reported the loss of a soldier in northern Gaza, bringing the total combat losses to 292 since the commencement of ground incursions on October 20.
The situation remains dire, with tunnels, arms, and explosives exacerbating the conflict’s intensity and humanitarian toll on both sides of the Gaza-Israel border.
