Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 18 Displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Relatives Recount Horror
A Palestinian family seeking shelter in Rafah, Gaza, was tragically killed in an Israeli strike on their home.
At least 10 people, including children and women, were reportedly killed in the blast.
The family had been displaced from their northern Gaza residence and had been instructed by Israel to move to a "safe zone" in Rafah during the ongoing conflict.
Relatives and neighbors described the scene as horrifying, with remains of the victims torn to pieces and debris scattered around.
The family member speaking to AFP expressed outrage and accused the world of complicity in the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to invade the city of Rafah in Gaza, home to approximately 1.5 million people, after a bombing raid killed several civilians, including children.
The victims' relatives expressed shock and sadness, with one relative stating that he had gone back to sleep after hearing the bombing, assuming it had not affected his aunt's house.
The search for remains was difficult, with children sifting through the rubble and neighbors helping to remove debris.
A large crater remained after the strike, and some remains were visible but unable to be retrieved.
People from the north of Gaza sought refuge in the south due to perceived safety, but were attacked with no warning.
In a separate incident, an Israeli rocket hit a house in Rafah's Al-Salam neighborhood, killing eight family members, including five children and two women.
A resident named Sami Nyrab reported that his relative's family was having dinner when their house was destroyed by an Israeli missile.