Israeli counterattack in Rafah, 19 killed

Last Updated on May 6, 2024 4:32 am

At least 19 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes after three Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hamas attack near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The incident happened on Sunday (May 5). News from Reuters.

Earlier, the Palestinian organization Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack at Gaza’s Karem Salm crossing. Israel claimed that three of its soldiers were killed in the attack by Hamas.

Israel’s military said 10 projectiles were fired from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the Karem Salon crossing area. Israel closed the crossing immediately after the Hamas attack. As a result, relief supplies cannot reach Gaza through here. However, other crossings are open.

Meanwhile, Hamas’ armed wing claimed it fired rockets at Israeli military bases through the crossing. They also said that the commercial crossing was not the target of their attack.

More than 1 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah, Gaza, bordering Egypt.

Three people were killed and several wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the town of Rafah, shortly after the Hamas attack, Palestinian doctors said. After midnight, Israeli airstrikes hit another of Rafa’s houses. Nine people including a child were killed. Health officials in Gaza said that a total of 19 Palestinians were killed in the new attack by Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed the retaliatory strike, saying it hit the launcher from which Hamas had fired the missile.

Hamas and Israel carried out the attack in exchange for a ceasefire in Cairo, Egypt.