Israeli strikes in Rafah kill 35, including women and children, injure dozens

At least 35 people, mostly women and children, were killed and dozens were injured after Israeli strikes hit a refugee camp in Gaza on Sunday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that there is no hospital in Rafah with enough capacity to handle this number of killed and injured, causing confusion among paramedics and ambulances.

Videos posted on social media showed that the hit area included a large container used as a shelter for many families, surrounded by hundreds of tents.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that it struck a "Hamas compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating a short while ago."

Posting on X (Twitter) IDF said, "An IDF aircraft struck a Hamas compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating a short while ago. The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law through the use of precise munitions and on the basis of precise intelligence that indicated Hamas' use of the area. The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review."

They additionally claimed that terrorists who were killed in the airstrike included the Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria.

“Eliminated in the precise airstrike in northwest Rafah: Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria and an additional senior Hamas official. Terrorist #1: Yassin Rabia Rabia managed the entirety of Hamas' terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria, transferred funds to terrorist targets and planned Hamas terrorist attacks throughout Judea and Samaria," IDF said in another post on X.

"He also carried out numerous attacks, in which IDF soldiers were killed. Terrorist #2: Khaled Nagar. Nagar, a senior official in Hamas' Judea and Samaria Headquarters, directed shooting attacks and other terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria and transferred funds intended for Hamas' terrorist activities in Gaza. He also carried out several deadly terrorist attacks in which IDF soldiers were killed," they added.

The airstrikes were done in retaliation after rockets were fired at Tel Aviv and parts of central Israel on Sunday, said the Israeli Health Ministry.

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