Israeli forces launched an airstrike on Rafah, the southernmost city in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, killing at least 30 people. Hamas retaliated by attacking central Israel, including Tel Aviv, with rockets, according to reports from Reuters and local Israeli media on November 26 (local time).
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had launched an airstrike targeting the Hamas headquarters in Rafah, where high-ranking officials of the Palestinian militant group Hamas were gathered, according to The Times of Israel (TOI) and other sources.
The Israeli military stated, “This attack was carried out against targeted terrorists using precision weapons under international law, based on information that Hamas terrorists were using the area.”
Furthermore, the Israeli military said it was aware of reports of civilian casualties resulting from the attack and the subsequent fire that spread to a Palestinian refugee camp.
According to Reuters, a Hamas-controlled official from the Gaza Strip Health Ministry reported dozens of Palestinians were killed and injured. The director of the Gaza Strip’s public relations office estimated the death toll from the airstrike at 30.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society warned on X that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations are still underway.
The Israeli military’s airstrike on the Rafah refugee camp came just hours after a barrage of rockets targeting central Israel, including Tel Aviv, was launched from the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, stated in a message posted on Telegram that they had launched the rockets in response to the Zionist’s massacre of civilians. The Israeli military confirmed that eight projectiles were launched from the Rafah area.
Reuters reported that the attack by Hamas triggered the first air raid sirens in Tel Aviv in four months.
Despite international pressure, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on Israel to “immediately cease military attacks and all other actions in Rafah,” on November 24, the Israeli military’s operations in Rafah continue, and Hamas has begun to retaliate.
Residents reported that Israeli tanks were patrolling near the Rafah border crossing into Egypt from the Gaza Strip and had entered some eastern areas. However, Reuters reported that they had not yet fully entered Rafah since the operation began earlier this month.
Fighting is also escalating between Iran-backed Shia militant groups and Israeli and U.S. forces.
Daniel Hagari, the IDF senior spokesperson, said at a press conference that at least seven members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah were eliminated in the airstrikes. TOI reported that Hezbollah announced six of its members had been killed.
In addition, the U.S. Central Command announced that it had destroyed a drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen into the Red Sea.
Most Commented