The conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached a new level of intensity, with an Israeli airstrike in Rafah resulting in the deaths of 35 Palestinians. This deadly strike came in response to a series of rockets launched by Hamas towards Tel Aviv, marking the first such attack on Israel's commercial hub since January.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, air raid sirens blared across central Israel and the Mediterranean coastal city, signaling the incoming threat. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that eight rockets were fired from the Rafah area, with most being intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system. Despite the interceptions, two women sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter, and several flights from Ben Gurion airport were delayed or canceled due to the heightened security alert.
Hamas's military wing claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, citing "Zionist massacres ... against civilians" as their motivation. The Israeli response was swift and severe, with airstrikes targeting what the IDF described as Hamas's last stronghold in the southern Gaza Strip. The strikes resulted in significant casualties, with 35 Palestinians reported dead and many more injured.
Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reacted strongly, urging a forceful response: "Rafah! With full force!" Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Today's barrage from Rafah is proof that the IDF must act wherever Hamas is."
The international community has expressed significant concern over the escalating violence. The United Nations' top court has ordered Israel to halt its offensive, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory. Nearly one million people have been forced to flee their homes, and desperately needed aid deliveries have been halted due to the ongoing fighting.
Despite international pressure, Israel has continued its ground operation in Rafah, citing the presence of Hamas leadership and four battalions of fighters as justification. The situation remains tense, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
The recent events underscore the fragile and volatile nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the world watches, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, and the prospects for peace seem increasingly distant.
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