Palestine (Washington Insider Magazine)— Israeli shelling on Friday struck tent camps for displaced Palestinians near Rafah, Gaza, resulting in at least 25 deaths and 50 injuries, according to Gaza health officials and emergency workers. The attacks occurred just outside an Israeli-designated safe zone and near a Red Cross field hospital, which also sustained damage.
Shelling Near Red Cross Hospital
Witnesses reported that Israeli forces fired a second round of shells, hitting individuals who had emerged from their tents near a Red Cross field hospital north of Rafah. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported the hospital received numerous casualties, including 22 dead and 45 wounded. The ICRC condemned the proximity of “high-calibre projectiles” to the hospital, where hundreds, including staff, reside in tents.
Eyewitness Accounts and Official Reports
According to Euronews, Ahmed Radwan, a spokesperson for Rafah’s Civil Defence, detailed the shelling at two coastal locations now crowded with makeshift tents. The Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed the casualties, stating that the attacks occurred near the Muwasi area, a designated safe zone along the Mediterranean coast.
Israeli Military Response
The Israeli military stated that the incident is under investigation, asserting there is no evidence of a strike within the safe zone. The military did not provide further details about the intended targets. Israel has previously targeted areas near the “humanitarian zone” in Muwasi, where displaced Palestinians have set up camps.
Broader Conflict and Civilian Impact
Gaza has suffered significant civilian casualties and destruction as a result of the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Hamas. The UN has expressed worries about possible genocide; Israel disputes this accusation and attributes the high number of civilian deaths to militants operating in populated areas.
Additional Casualties Across Gaza
Elsewhere in Gaza, Civil Defence teams recovered the bodies of five individuals killed in an airstrike on Gaza City apartments, and another strike on a municipal garage killed five more. Orthopaedic chief at al-Ahli hospital, Fadel Naeem, reported receiving 30 bodies on Friday, describing the day as “difficult and brutal.”
Israeli Soldiers Killed
The Israeli army reported that two soldiers were killed in combat in central Gaza, with three others severely injured. Israel’s ground offensives and bombardments have resulted in over 37,400 deaths in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict began after Hamas’ attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of about 250 individuals by militants.
