Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 44 Palestinians, including over a dozen children, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Saturday.
This occurred shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for the potential evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from the area in preparation for a ground invasion.
While Netanyahu did not specify details or a timeline, the announcement sparked panic and drew warnings from diplomats.
With more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants residing in Rafah, many having followed Israeli evacuation directives covering two-thirds of the territory, the situation raises concerns about where these displaced individuals could seek refuge.
Israel contends that Rafah, situated along the Egypt border, serves as Hamas’s final stronghold in Gaza following over four months of conflict ignited by a Hamas attack on October 7.
Egyptian Minister Warns Against Israeli Action in Rafah
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry cautioned against potential Israeli ground action in Rafah, predicting “disastrous consequences.”
He further asserted Israel’s intent to compel Palestinians off their land ultimately.
Shoukry additionally conveyed Egypt’s efforts to mediate between the conflicting parties to secure a lasting ceasefire and release the remaining hostages seized on October 7, in exchange for Palestinian detainees held in Israel.
He acknowledged the intricacies of the negotiation process, emphasizing its complexity.
Tensions have escalated between Netanyahu and the United States, with American officials warning that an incursion into Rafah lacking a comprehensive strategy for civilian welfare would result in catastrophic consequences.
Despite Israel’s directives for civilians to seek refuge in Rafah from ongoing ground conflicts in Khan Younis to the north, Israeli airstrikes have persisted in Rafah almost daily.
Deadly Rafah Airstrikes: 28 Killed in Homes
During the night leading into Saturday, three airstrikes targeted residential homes in the Rafah area, resulting in the death of 28 individuals, as reported by a health official and Associated Press journalists who witnessed the arrival of bodies at hospitals.
Each airstrike claimed the lives of multiple members from three families, including a total of 10 children, the youngest being only 3 months old.
Fadel al-Ghannam recounted how one airstrike devastated his family, claiming the lives of his son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren, tearing their bodies apart.
Later on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential home in Rafah resulted in the death of at least 11 individuals, including three children, according to Ahmed al-Sawaf, head of the Rafah municipality.
The casualties were transported to Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital, as confirmed by an AP journalist on the scene.
Additionally, two other airstrikes targeted police personnel, resulting in the deaths of two officers and three senior officials from the civil police, according to city officials.