Israel strikes Rafah, 9 Palestinians including 6 children dead
An Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza, on Friday, killing nine Palestinians, six of whom were children, AP reported. Local hospital authorities confirmed these fatalities. More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents currently live in Rafah, the majority of whom have been displaced by fighting further north in the enclave.
Ongoing conflict and rising death toll in Gaza
The attack comes amid calls from the international community, including the United States, not to attack Rafah to avoid more civilian casualties in Gaza. For months, the Israeli government has insisted on launching a ground offensive inside the city, where it claims many of the remaining Hamas terrorists are holed up. Four of the remaining six Hamas battalions are believed to operate out of Rafah.
Rising casualties and regional tensions amid conflict
The conflict between Israel and Hamas was triggered by an unexpected incursion into southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups on October 7. This led to around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. Approximately 250 individuals were also taken as hostages by Hamas that day, with about 130 hostages still believed to be there, according to Israel.
Israel delayed Rafah offensive after Iran attack
Last week, Israeli sources told CNN that Israel was planning to launch its first ground invasion against Rafah in Gaza, but the campaign was postponed due to Iran's weekend attack on the country. Iran fired over 300 projectiles toward Israel after the latter allegedly bombed an Iranian consular building in Damascus, killing two generals and five officers in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The vast majority of the projectiles were intercepted by Israel and its partners.
