DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — In the latest escalation of violence, Israeli forces shelled tent camps in the Gaza Strip, tragically claiming the lives of at least 25 individuals and injuring 50 more on Friday. These camps housed displaced Palestinians near Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. This incident marks another surge in the longtime conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparking international condemnation and highlighting the severe humanitarian crises facing the enclave.
The shelling targeted makeshift shelters where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge from the ongoing conflict, as reported by Gaza’s health officials. The attack is part of a series of military actions that have targeted areas amid heavy fighting but outside designated safe zones, raising questions about the adherence to established humanitarian corridors.
According to witnesses at the scene, the strikes were notably close to a Red Cross field hospital just north of Rafophys, exacerbating the tragedy as individuals emerging from their tents were struck down. The International Committee of the Red Cross has reported substantial casualties arriving at their facilities and strongly condemned the use of heavy artillery in such close proximity to medical installations and dense civilian populations.
Emergency response spokesperson Ahmed Radwan detailed that the Friday attacks took place by the coast, now densely populated by tented communities of displaced persons. Despite Israeli military officials stating the incidents are under review, they have maintained that operations were not conducted inside the acknowledged safe zone.
The repetitive bombings near these humanitarian zones highlight an unsettling pattern that some critics argue contradicts claims by the Israeli military that it is targeting only militant sites and infrastructure. Israel maintains that its operations intend to neutralize Hamas fighters while minimizing civilian casualties, yet the high number of civilian deaths has continually drawn severe criticism from across the globe.
As the conflict has progressed into its ninth month, the international community, including various human rights organizations, have escalated their criticisms of Israel’s tactics, particularly noting the enormous toll on civilian life and infrastructure. Recent findings by the top United Nations court suggesting a potential “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza have intensified the scrutiny, though Israel has vehemently denied these allegations.
Victims of the shelling reported terrifying scenes, with initial blasts causing disorientation followed closely by more deadly strikes. Mona Ashour, a resident who lost her husband in the attacks, shared a harrowing account of the terrifying moments that led to his death, underscoring the chaos and peril that civilians continually face.
The ongoing violence has undoubtedly placed immense pressure on local hospitals, which were already strained under the crisis. As the humanitarian situation worsophens, with shortages of essential supplies like food, water, and medical resources, the displaced populations find themselves caught in an increasingly desperate situation. Hundreds of thousands have left their homes, seeking safety in overcrowded and under-resourced shelters along the enclave.
Recent military engagements have not been limited to the Rafah region. In the northern Gaza Strip, additional lives were lost in different airstrikes, according to local civil defense groups. These continuous strikes across various parts of Gaza have compounded the challenges for emergency response teams and healthcare providers trying to mitigate the rising casualties.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported the loss of two soldiers during operations in central Gaza, with three more severely injured. The ongoing ground offenses and airstrikes demonstrate the increased intensity of the military efforts to combat Hamas, which began in response to an attack in October last year.
With more than 37,400 people reported dead in Gaza since the conflict escalated, the distinction between combatant and non-combatant casualties remains blurred, further complicating efforts for international diplomatic interventions aimed at ceasing hostilities and addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region.