Israel Strikes Rafah After Hamas Fired Rockets Toward Humanitarian Aid Crossing Near Hospital Killing 3 Soldiers
Although Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack near the crossing, it said that their intended target was an Israeli military base near the crossing, not the crossing itself.
RAFAH - The Hamas terrorist organization fired a barrage of rockets toward the Kerem Shalom crossing near the Emirati hospital in Rafah which facilitates the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza, after which Israeli airstrikes struck the southern Gazan city of Rafah killing at least 19 people.
Although Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack near the crossing, it said that their intended target was an Israeli military base near the crossing, not the crossing itself.
The Israeli military has closed the crossing off, but also confirms the crossing does not look to have been the intended target, and that there is no indication that any of the remaining open crossings into the Strip are under threat of attack.
Medics and first responders in Gaza told AFP that at least 16 people were killed in the Israeli strikes on Rafah, including seven people from a single family.
One of the first responders said, "The toll of martyrs in Rafah reached 16," and included seven people belonging to a single family and 9 others.
Israeli media reported that 9 Palestinians were killed in the strikes on Rafah, citing officials from the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry on Monday.