Deadly Rafah Airstrikes: Over a Dozen Killed, Hospital Director Reports

In the city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza, two airstrikes resulted in the death of at least 13 individuals, as reported by Dr. Marwan Al-Homss, the director of Abu Yousuf Al-Najjar Government Hospital, on Saturday. The initial strike targeted the northern part of Rafah, claiming the lives of six family members, including several women and children. A subsequent strike on an open area, where displaced individuals had gathered, led to the deaths of seven more people. This group comprised four children, a woman, a man, and a teenager, detailed by Al-Homss.

Israel has stated its actions in Rafah aim at Hamas targets. Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Captives and the Missing, communicated to CNN on Saturday that the Israeli military strives to minimize collateral damage in its operations.

The prospect of an Israeli ground invasion looms over Rafah, following continuous aerial bombardments in recent weeks. Israel asserts that such an offensive is crucial, contrasting it with the alternative of yielding to Hamas and endangering the lives of 134 hostages. This stance was articulated by Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner in a CNN interview on Tuesday, emphasizing that surrender is not a viable option for Israel.

The potential ground offensive in Rafah has prompted warnings from the UN’s top humanitarian official, suggesting it could lead to significant civilian casualties. Amid these developments, residents of Rafah express feelings of entrapment, with some attempting to escape northward to central Deir al-Balah, another area recently affected by deadly airstrikes.