In Israeli airstrikes on the town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, 22 people died, including six women and five children, the youngest of whom was only five days old, Palestinian health officials announced today. Three family houses were hit in the strikes during the night.
The first strike killed 12 people, including four siblings between the ages of nine and 27, according to the records of Abu Yusef al-Najjar Hospital, where their bodies were taken. Seven people were killed in the second strike, including a father and his five-day-old boy, and three siblings were killed in the third strike.
Israel blames Hamas for the large number of civilian deaths as its members fight in densely populated areas.
Israel has regularly carried out airstrikes on Rafah since the start of the war and is threatening to send in ground troops, saying Rafah is Hamas’ last major stronghold in the coastal enclave.
Over a million Palestinians have fled to that city, which is located on the Egyptian border. The US and other countries urged Israel not to carry out the planned attack, fearing a humanitarian disaster.
Photo: illustration
