Shell Strike Close to Rafah As Per Red Cross Reporting
Refugee camp by Rafah, reportedly under Israeli control and subjected to gunfire, says the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This revelation led to the death of over 20 individuals. The Israeli military, however, denies any attack in the specified area.
On a Friday afternoon, during a mortar attack in the vicinity of the ICRC office in the Gaza Strip, over 20 people met their fate, as reported by the ICRC via its online service X. "Heavy shelling took place extremely close to the ICRC office and the ICRC housing near Al-Mawasi," the ICRC stated. The close proximity of the incident resulted in the influx of numerous casualties to the nearby Red Cross hospital, with 22 confirmed dead and 45 injured registered there. Further casualties were reported.
Hundreds of refugees reside in tents near the ICRC office. Attacks in such close proximity to humanitarian installations pose a threat to the lives of civilians and Red Cross workers, the organization noted. The locations are known to the parties involved in the conflict and are clearly marked with the Red Cross emblem.
The organization expressed concern, stating this incident is one of several over the past few days. They cited previous instances where Red Cross sites have been hit by stray bullets. The organization repeatedly urged Israel and Hamas, amidst the war in the Gaza Strip, to protect civilians.
IDF: Investigation underway
An Israeli army spokesperson declared, "There is no evidence indicating the military conducted an attack in the humanitarian zone in Al-Mawasi." The incident is currently being probed. The health ministry controlled by Hamas in the Gaza Strip reported 25 dead and 50 injured in the attack. The Israeli army reportedly targeted "refugee tents in the Al-Masawi area." The ICRC office is situated in this area near Rafah.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip was instigated by a massive Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in the reported deaths of 1194 individuals and 251 hostage-takings in the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel has allegedly been conducting extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. According to reports from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, over 37,430 people have reportedly been killed in total, but these numbers cannot be independently verified.
