May 27th 2024.
The city of Gaza was shaken on Sunday evening as reports of a deadly attack by Israel surfaced. According to Palestinian media, at least 40 people lost their lives and many others were injured in the bombing of tents in northwestern Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip.
It was reported by the Palestinian official news agency WAFA that Israeli forces launched around eight rockets towards the tents, which were located in a newly established camp. This camp was already overcrowded with thousands of displaced people and was situated near the warehouses of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Local sources, as told to the Xinhua news agency, described the attack as "severe and unprecedented". The densely populated area, which was home to many displaced families, was hit with intense flames that engulfed the tents made of plastic and tin. The situation was made even more devastating as many civilians, including women and children, were still inside these tents when the attack occurred.
Videos shared on social media showed the horrifying scene of the area, with tents and vehicles on fire. The difficult terrain of the location also proved to be a challenge for the Civil Defense and ambulance crews, who were trying to retrieve the bodies of the victims.
According to Palestinian security sources, the area targeted by the Israeli military was previously designated as a "safe area". This only adds to the shock and outrage felt by the people of Gaza, who were once again at the receiving end of Israel's aggression.
In a statement released on Sunday night, Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, condemned the bombing as a blatant disregard for the decision of the International Court of Justice. The court had recently called for Israel to stop its aggression towards Rafah.
However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions, stating that they had targeted a Hamas compound where "significant Hamas terrorists" were operating. The IDF further stated that the strike was carried out using precise munitions and intelligence that indicated Hamas' use of the area.
This attack by Israel came just hours after the armed wing of Hamas, known as Al-Qassam Brigades, launched a large rocket barrage towards Tel Aviv, the coastal city in central Israel. This was the first time in months that such an attack had been carried out from Rafah.
It is worth mentioning that on May 7, the Israeli army had taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, causing a halt in aid entering Gaza. This only adds to the already strained relationship between Israel and Rafah, which is considered by Israel as a stronghold for Hamas, the organization that has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007.
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