Dozens, including 'two senior Hamas members', killed in heavy Israeli airstrike on Rafah

Palestinian hospital sources report that at least 45 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip on Sunday night. The airstrikes targeted war refugee tents, and 'several' were caught in the flames. The initial death toll reported on Monday morning was 35. The Israeli army confirmed the attack, stating it targeted a Hamas facility and killed two senior Hamas militants. The Israeli Ministry of Defense identified the two Hamas members as 'Yasin Rabi' and 'Khaled Naqar'. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, stated that most of the casualties were women and children, with dozens more injured. These attacks on Rafah occurred two days after the International Court of Justice urged Israel to cease its military operations in Rafah. The Biden administration has repeatedly asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to refrain from attacking Rafah and even halted a military aid package to Israel to prevent further harm to Rafah. Blinken reiterated his opposition to Israeli operations in Rafah during a conversation with Gallant. Rafah, located at the southernmost point of the Gaza Strip, was home to over half of Gaza's 2.3 million population before the war with the extremist group Hamas began. Hundreds of thousands have also sought refuge in this area since the war started. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States. Despite Israeli warnings, tens of thousands of war refugees remain in this area, while many have fled to other locations. According to the Associated Press, videos released from the bombing site indicate a heavy airstrike and significant damage. The Israeli army stated it is investigating reports of civilian casualties. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent announced that with ongoing search and rescue operations in the 'Tal al-Sultan' neighborhood of Rafah, about two kilometers northwest of the city center, the death toll may rise. According to this organization, Israel had designated this area as a 'humanitarian zone'. This neighborhood was not among those the Israeli army ordered to evacuate earlier this month. The Israeli airstrike on Sunday night occurred hours after the extremist group Hamas launched rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, which triggered air raid sirens in the country for the first time since January. No reports of human casualties from the Hamas rocket fire have been released. The military wing of the group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Israeli army stated that eight projectiles fired from the Rafah area entered Israeli territory, with 'some' intercepted and destroyed. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. This Hamas-affiliated entity does not provide a breakdown of casualties between civilians and militants. Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian deaths, claiming that 'militants operate in densely populated residential areas'. Approximately 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million population have left their homes and are struggling with food shortages. UN officials state that parts of the Gaza Strip are experiencing famine.