Hours after Hamas fired a “large rocket barrage” at Tel Aviv, Israeli airstrikes hit a displaced persons camp in Rafah, southern Gaza, killing at least 35 Palestinians. The health ministry in Gaza stated that the strikes, which targeted women and children, resulted in “35 martyrs” and dozens of injuries. The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike, asserting it was based on “precise intelligence” and aimed at “legitimate targets under international law,” including two senior Hamas officials.
The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza condemned the strike as a “horrific massacre,” claiming it targeted a UN-operated center for Palestinian refugees. The military, however, stated that this Israeli airstrike targeted a Hamas compound, resulting in the deaths of senior Hamas officials Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar, who were linked to operations in the West Bank. The military acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, stating the incident was under review.
Survivors described the devastation, with one telling Al Jazeera, “I was walking and looking at my phone when the area was struck. I did not realize what had happened. I had no idea what had become of my family.” Another survivor recounted the aftermath: “They burned people alive.”
Rafah has become a focal point of intense conflict, with Israeli forces launching a ground operation earlier in May despite international concerns for civilian safety. The area, deemed safer than others, has drawn many displaced people. The strike occurred two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt operations to protect civilians.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported a significant number of casualties, transporting many dead and injured from Rafah. The Palestinian presidency in the West Bank labeled the strike a “heinous massacre,” accusing Israel of targeting displaced persons’ tents deliberately.
Hamas responded by urging Palestinians to “rise up and march” against Israeli airstrike and its forces . The group’s armed wing claimed the earlier rocket barrage on Tel Aviv was retaliation for “Zionist massacres against civilians.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the offensive amid efforts to negotiate a truce and hostage-release deal. Despite the UN court’s ruling, Israel persists in operations in Rafah, aiming to eliminate Hamas fighters and rescue hostages, further intensifying the plight of civilians and sparking international outcry. According to Gaza’s health ministry, nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, following Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israeli communities, which killed around 1,200 people and led to the capture of over 250 hostages.