Israeli Troops Killed in Rafah Explosion as Gaza Air Strikes Intensify

An explosion in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, resulted in the deaths and injuries of several Israeli soldiers from the Golani Brigade. The troops were reportedly attempting to demolish a building when the blast occurred. Israeli media has enforced a blackout on the incident, and no official government response has been issued yet.

Eyewitnesses in Rafah described to Al Jazeera a massive explosion followed by Israeli helicopters evacuating the wounded. Fighting in the area remains intense. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, noted that Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has claimed direct combat with Israeli forces in the El Geneina neighborhood. They also stated that multiple Israeli soldiers might be trapped under the debris of a booby-trapped building an ambush tactic often used by Hamas.

The Qassam Brigades later released a statement claiming responsibility for detonating an explosive device targeting a group of Israeli soldiers near a mosque in the Al-Tannour neighborhood. The group asserted that the attack led to multiple casualties among the Israeli troops.

Evacuating the injured and dead proved difficult due to the ongoing clashes, although some Israeli media broadcasted helicopter evacuations of wounded soldiers. According to Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, the Israeli unit was engaged in wiring buildings for demolition in Rafah, where widespread destruction has already taken place since the invasion began.

At the same time, Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 16 Palestinians, following a 24-hour period where more than 100 lives were lost. Strikes in Deir el-Balah, the Nuseirat refugee camp, Shujayea, Beit Lahiya, and Khan Younis led to widespread destruction and civilian deaths, including entire families and children. In Beit Lahiya, an airstrike destroyed a home filled with displaced people, killing nine and injuring many more.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, exacerbated by Israel’s blockade, which has prevented the delivery of essential aid. The World Central Kitchen suspended operations after exhausting food supplies, and the World Food Programme reported running out of stocks. Malnutrition is widespread, with aid groups warning of famine. Rights organizations have labeled the blockade a possible war crime, condemning it as a strategy of starvation.

Sean Carroll of Anera stated that the humanitarian crisis has reached an alarming level, with drastically reduced food distribution. Aid workers are calling on governments to apply diplomatic, political, and economic pressure to allow for humanitarian access, emphasizing the loss of humanity amidst the crisis.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stark warning to Iran following a Houthi drone strike near Ben Gurion Airport, suggesting that Tehran could suffer similar consequences as Hamas and Hezbollah. In response to the attack, Israel launched strikes in Yemen, targeting infrastructure in Houthi-controlled zones. Despite U.S.-mediated ceasefire efforts, the Houthis declared intentions to continue their attacks on Israeli targets.