Israeli strikes on southern Gaza city of Rafah kill 13, mostly children

Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 13 people, including nine children, health officials said Sunday.

The first strike killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which received the bodies. The woman was pregnant, and the doctors managed to save the baby, the hospital said.

The second strike killed eight children and two women, all from the same family, according to hospital records.

An airstrike in Rafah the night before killed nine people, including six children.

The strike late on Friday, struck the Tel Sultan neighbourhood of Rafah, as reported by Gaza’s civil defence. At the main morgue of al-Najjar Hospital, grieving relatives mourned and embraced the bodies of children. "Hamza, my beloved, your hair looks so pretty," expressed one grandmother in sorrow.

Among the casualties were Abdel-Fattah Sobhi Radwan, his wife Najlaa Ahmed Aweidah, and their three children, according to Abdel's brother-in-law, Ahmed Barhoum. Barhoum himself lost his wife, Rawan Radwan, and their 5-year-old daughter, Alaa.

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"This is a world devoid of all human values and morals," told Barhoum to The Associated Press, cradling Alaa's body. "They bombed a house full of displaced people, women, and children. The victims were solely women and children."

The conflict between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas has drastically raised tensions in the Middle East, particularly in recent weeks between Israel and Iran.

However, the recent strike has brought attention once again to Rafah, which is home to more than half of Gaza's population of approximately 2.3 million, many of whom have been displaced by conflict elsewhere.

Despite international calls for restraint, Israel has persisted in its plans for a ground offensive in Rafah, targeting areas where they believe Hamas militants remain entrenched.

In response to an evacuation alert from the Israeli army, some Palestinians evacuated an area near the Egypt border in Rafah on Saturday. "They will strike at 3:40. It's happening. What time is it now?" questioned one individual before a hit followed, though it is unknown whether there were any casualties.