Israeli Airstrike on Home in Rafah Claims Lives of 12 Palestinians in Gaza City

Gaza, The Gulf Observer: Israel has killed at least 12 Palestinians in a strike targeting a house in besieged Gaza’s Rafah city, health officials told the Reuters news agency.

Two children and four women were among the dead pulled from the rubble, said Dr. Saleh al-Hams, the head of the nursing department at the European Hospital.

Eight of the bodies, including two mangled and unidentifiable corpses, were transferred to the European Hospital. The rest of the remains were taken to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital, according to hospital records. After almost six months of war, about a dozen of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are only partially functioning.

Israel has vowed to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, claiming the city on the border with Egypt is the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza. Israeli militry has continued to bombard areas where they told civilians to take shelter — including Rafah.

Over half of Gaza’s population has sought refuge in Rafah, many in makeshift tent camps, United Nations shelters and crowded apartments.