The IDF bombardment hit Rafah’s Tel Al-Sultan neighbourhood of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave.
Despite the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel should immediately halt its operation in Rafah, it carried out deadly air strikes on the densely populated Palestinian enclave killing over 35 civilians, mostly women and children and injuring dozens more, according to local health officials.
The IDF bombardment hit Rafah’s Tel Al-Sultan neighbourhood of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave.
Justifying the attack, Israel said its air force conducted a “precise strike” in the Gazan city of Rafah on Sunday, eliminating two senior Hamas leaders.
Footage from the area – supposedly designated a safe zone for displaced civilians – showed widespread devastation, as a blaze ripped through a tent camp, RT reports.
A spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society warned that with many people trapped in the burning debris, the death toll may rise.
Videos showed rescuers pulling badly burnt survivors and scorched bodies from the ruins, as first responders struggled to help the injured and tackle the flames.
Earlier this month, the IDF ordered a partial evacuation of the neighbourhood, but three blocks were still designated as safe, encouraging people to take refuge there, according to Al Jazeera.
The Israeli military has acknowledged the air raid, but insisted it targeted a Hamas compound and successfully eliminated two “senior terrorists”.
It accused the Hamas leaders of planning and carrying out “numerous attacks, in which IDF soldiers were killed.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Israeli military wrote: "An IDF aircraft struck a Hamas compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating a short while ago.
"The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law, through the use of precise munitions and on the basis of precise intelligence that indicated Hamas' use of the area.
"The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review."
In an updated post, IDF said that airstrike in northwest Rafah eliminated Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria and an additional senior Hamas official.
The post read: "Eliminated in the precise airstrike in northwest Rafah: Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria and an additional senior Hamas official.
"Terrorist #1: Yassin Rabia; Rabia managed the entirety of Hamas' terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria, transferred funds to terrorist targets and planned Hamas terrorist attacks throughout Judea and Samaria. He also carried out numerous attacks, in which IDF soldiers were killed.
"Terrorist #2: Khaled Nagar; Nagar, a senior official in Hamas’ Judea and Samaria Headquarters, directed shooting attacks and other terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria and transferred funds intended for Hamas’ terrorist activities in Gaza. He also carried out several deadly terrorist attacks in which IDF soldiers were killed."
SaharaReporters reported last week that the ICJ, a UN top court ordered Israel to immediately halt its operation in Rafah.
The court said it was “not convinced that the evacuation efforts and the related measures that Israel affirms to have undertaken” were sufficient to “alleviate the immense risk” to civilians.
The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when the Gaza-based group launched a surprise raid into the south of the country following years of Israeli occupation, killing some 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages.
Israel subsequently declared war on the Palestinian enclave. More than 36,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed by IDF amid the operation to destroy the militants.