New Israeli strikes kill 16 in Rafah, first responders say

New Israeli strikes killed 16 people in Rafah on Tuesday, first responders said, as an incursion into the southern Gaza city, which once had more than a million Palestinians, expands. 

The latest attacks occurred in northwest Rafah, according to The Associated Press, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Palestinian Civil Defense. The strikes, which took place overnight in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, were conducted in the same area as the deadly Israeli attack over the weekend, which killed at least 45 Palestinians, sparking international outrage.

The Sunday attack targeted a humanitarian zone, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Monday that the strike on civilians was a “tragic mistake” and called for an investigation.

Tuesday’s strike, which occurred in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, presents further escalation in Rafah, an area that was once considered one of the last remaining places for Palestinians fleeing the military operation to shelter.

Since the beginning of Israel’s steady incursion toward Rafah, once seen as a place of refuge for displaced Palestinians, around 1 million civilians have fled the southern city, according to the main humanitarian agency providing relief to Palestinians in Gaza, known as UNRWA. Those who have fled the city are scattered around in tents. 

The U.S. and other Israel allies have cautioned Tel Aviv against executing a full-throttled invasion into Rafah, with President Biden warning he would halt offensive weapons transfers.

Israel has argued the operation needs to proceed in order to eradicate militant group Hamas and return the remaining hostages that were taken on Oct. 7, when more than 1,100 Israelis in the south of the country were killed by a Hamas-led attack.

Following the onset of the war, Israel launched an offensive into Gaza that, so far, has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, a total count that does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.

The latest movement also comes after the U.N.-backed International Court of Justice ruled Friday that Israel must immediately stop its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.