Israel attacks Rafah in southernmost Gaza despite international opposition (Comprehensive)

The Israeli military struck the southernmost city of Rafah, the last refuge for residents of the Gaza Strip in Palestine, on the 12th (local time), killing dozens, AFP reported.

According to foreign media on the day, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Israeli military attacked Rafah at dawn. The Red Crescent said Israel was carrying out an "intense" attack on Rafah. Local residents were terrified as the attack began while people were asleep, and some reportedly feared that Israel might have launched a ground offensive in Rafah.

AFP reported that its local journalists informed that there was concentrated shelling on the outskirts of Rafah. The exact number of casualties from the airstrike is not yet confirmed, but at least dozens are believed to have died. According to AFP, the Hamas-affiliated Gaza Strip Health Ministry stated that more than 50 people were killed in the airstrike.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Another foreign media outlet, citing a Health Ministry official, reported that at least 37 Palestinians were killed. The official said that among the bodies of the deceased, 20 were transferred to Kuwait Hospital, 12 to European Hospital, and 5 to Abu Yusef Al-Najjar Hospital.

Russian news agencies, citing Arab broadcasters, reported that the death toll has risen to 100. TASS also added that more than 230 people were injured. In this regard, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they carried out a "series of attacks" in southern Gaza on the day and that the operation is now "complete," but did not provide detailed information.

The Israeli military later issued a separate statement announcing that they conducted a special operation in Rafah and rescued two hostages who had been abducted during Hamas's surprise attack on October 7 last year.

The Israeli military said, "In Rafah, through a joint operation of the IDF, the Shin Bet (ISA), and the Israeli police, two Israeli hostages, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), were rescued," adding, "Both are in good health."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.