Israel retaliates with deadly airstrike in Rafah following Hamas attack in Tel Aviv, resulting in 35 casualties: Witnesses describe horrific scene of people being burned alive | 10 latest developments | Global News

In a tragic turn of events, Israeli airstrikes on a camp for displaced people in Rafah in southern Gaza Strip have reportedly killed at least 35 Palestinians. This comes hours after the Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for firing a “large rocket barrage” at Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub.

The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory stated that the strikes resulted in the deaths of 35 individuals, with many more injured, including children and women. The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that the airstrikes were carried out against “legitimate targets under international law” based on precise intelligence. They also claimed to have killed two senior Hamas officials responsible for operations in the West Bank.

The Hamas-run government media office in Gaza condemned the strike, calling it a “horrific massacre” and stating that it targeted a center operated by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees near Rafah. Survivors of the attack recounted harrowing experiences, with one individual describing how the air raid “burned an entire block” and “burned people alive.”

The conflict between the Israeli military and Hamas has intensified in recent weeks, with Rafah being a focal point of the violence. The area, which was not ordered to be evacuated by the Israeli military, attracted many people seeking refuge from more dangerous zones. The strike in Rafah came just two days after the International Court of Justice issued a ruling ordering Israel to halt its operations to spare civilian lives.

As the death toll rises and tensions escalate, efforts to forge a truce and secure the release of hostages are underway. The international community has condemned the violence, with calls for an end to the bloodshed and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.