Rafah airstrikes reportedly kill 50 people as Israel launches attack | World | News
Israeli airstrikes on Rafah have reportedly left 50 people dead and donzes more injured.
It comes after Hamas launched rocket attacks towards Tel Aviv.
According to Palestinian medics, the airstrike hit the tends of displaced people in the southern Gaza city, reports Sky News.
The Israel Defense Forces however said military aircraft struck a “Hamas compound” from which “significant Hamas terrorists were operating”.
The Gaza Health Ministry, a Hamas-run organisation, says at least 50 people died in the strikes.
Hamas itself codemned the attack, saying it was “an area crowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced people”.
The strike is said to have hit the Tel Al Sultan neighbourhood in western Rafah.
The area contains thousands of people who are taking shelter, many of which fled the eastern areas of the city where Israel began its Rafah ground offensive two weeks ago.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said in its statement: “The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law, using through the use of precise munitions and on the basis of precise intelligence that indicated Hamas’ use of the area.
“The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review.”
The attack comes just days after the International Court of Justice told Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah.
Earlier on Sunday, Hamas claimed it had launched a rocket attack on Tel Aviv. There were no reports of any casualties.
Israeli military officials claimed eight projectiles were fired into Israel from Gaza.
It claimed they were launched from Rafah.
Although the IDF said its “Iron Dome” defence system had intercepted some of the missiles.
