Rafah Airstrike Death Toll Rises to 50; IDF Targets Hamas Officials

The death toll from an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike in western Rafah on Sunday night has escalated to at least 50, including civilians, reports Action Aid UK. The strike, involving eight missiles, targeted makeshift shelters for internally displaced people adjacent to UNRWA warehouses that contain crucial supplies. Action Aid UK expressed profound sorrow and anger over the attacks, highlighting that these shelters were meant to be safe spaces for innocent civilians but instead became scenes of horrific violence. The organization fears the casualty count may continue to rise.
The IDF has stated that the airstrike resulted in the deaths of two significant Hamas officials, Yassin Rabia, the Chief of Staff for Hamas’ Judea and Samaria wing, and Khaled Nagar, a senior official. The IDF accuses Rabia and Nagar of being involved in planning and executing terror attacks against Israel, including deadly attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers between 2001 and 2003. The IDF’s action in Rafah was framed as a counter-terrorism measure against Hamas, which it blames for ongoing violence in the region.