At least 25 Palestinians were killed and 50 others injured when Israeli forces shelled tents housing displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area in western Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. The attack occurred on Friday, with medical sources reporting that rescue teams recovered the bodies of 18 victims and treated 35 injured people.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed the incident, stating that its medical teams were handling a large number of casualties. The shelling caused tents to catch fire, spreading fear and panic among the displaced people. Witnesses reported that ambulances rushed to the scene to transport the dead and injured to field hospitals, and rescue operations are ongoing.
The Al-Mawasi area, which lacks residential infrastructure, has been designated as a “safe zone” by the Israeli army, but it is plagued by severe shortages of basic resources such as water, sanitation, medical care, and food. The displaced people living in the area face dire conditions.
This incident comes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 37,400 Palestinians have been killed since last October following an attack by Hamas. Israel has faced international condemnation for its continued brutal offensive on Gaza, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.