DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — In an escalating series of attacks, Israeli forces shelled tent camps housing displaced Palestinians on the outskirts of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, resulting in at least 25 fatalities and injuring 50 others on Friday. The strikes targeted areas that have been havens for those fleeing ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, underscoring the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
This recent assault is part of a broader offensive that saw a previous attack less than a month ago, igniting a deadly blaze through another camp and causing international outcry. Health officials and rescue workers have been overwhelmed by the growing number of casualties in these densely populated makeshift camps that provide little protection against military operations.
Eyewitness accounts reveal a grim picture of the aftermath, with one resident describing a secondary explosion occurring as people emerged from their shelters, attempting to aid those injured by the initial shelling. The proximity of these strikes to the tent camps has raised severe concerns among international humanitarian organizations.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also reported a distressing scene at a nearby field hospital, declaring an influx of 22 dead and 45 wounded. The organization has criticized the use of high-caliber projectiles near the hospital and residential tents, pointing out that hundreds of displaced, including hospital staff, reside within meters of what became the frontline.
The Civil Defense spokesperson, Ahmed Radwan, detailed the shelling’s impact at two different sites along a coastal area, where displaced Palestinians have established encampments outside the Israeli-designated “Muwasi” safe zone. The Israeli military has stated that it is reviewing the incident and maintained that the strikes did not occur within the designated safe zones. However, details on the intended targets were not disclosed.
Israel’s military strategy throughout the ongoing conflict includes bombings near these humanitarian zones, justifying their actions with claims of harboring Hamas operatives. They assert their aim is to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for endangering civilians by operating within populated areas.
Nine months into the conflict, the international condemnation is mounting against Israel’s actions, which have led to significant civilian casualties and extensive destruction in Gaza. Despite Israel’s denials, global forums have debated the potential for these actions constituting severe violations of international law.
Amidst the chaos, personal tragedies unfold. Mona Ashour mourned her husband, who was killed while investigating the initial sounds of an attack near their shelter. Initial reports indicated that the military used non-lethal “sound bombs” designed to disorient, followed by more lethal strikes, reflecting a pattern increasing the risk to civilians.
The hospital frequented by casualties from these strikes is well known in the community and clearly marked with Red Cross emblems, but this has not spared it from becoming a casualty zone itself. Opened recently, the facility provides critical medical services ranging from emergency surgeries to pediatric care.
With Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepening, more than a million people have sought refuge in less afflicted areas like Rafah, though many have since fled even these regions. The remaining populations cling to survival in crowded tents and buildings lacking in basic necessities, with the wounded facing grim prospects in overloaded medical facilities.
Further north in Gaza City, separate Israeli airstrikes added to the civilian toll, hitting residential areas and municipal buildings, emphasizing the widespread nature of the conflict. Amid these offensive operations, the Israeli military also reported casualties among its ranks, underscuring the violent intensity on both sides of the conflict.
With spiraling civilian deaths now exceeding 37,400 as per Gaza’s Health Ministry, the local and global communities are urgently calling for reassessment of tactics used in densely populated areas to prevent further humanitarian disasters. As each side holds firm, the cycles of violence and retaliation show scant signs of abating, leaving the international community searching for viable paths to de-escalation and peace.