Israeli occupation forces bombed tents sheltering displaced Palestinians west of Khan Younis on Wednesday night, killing five civilians, including two children, and injuring at least 32 others, according to medical staff at Nasser Hospital who spoke to Al Manassa.
The victims, all from the Abu Hussein family, were struck as they slept in Al-Najaat camp, hours after an armed resistance attack in Rafah targeted Israeli troops occupying the city.
Earlier in the day, Israel claimed that fighters from Hamas ambushed an Israeli military unit in Rafah, injuring several. In a brief post on X, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the army would respond “appropriately.”
That response came swiftly. Surveillance drones fired four successive missiles into the camp in Khan Younis, obliterating tents filled with families displaced by previous bombings.
Hospital officials confirmed the dead included two children and two women, and said dozens of others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from moderate to critical. Several are not expected to survive.
A local eyewitness told Al Manassa that Israeli aircraft flew at low altitude before the strike, offering no warning before unleashing missiles on the crowded camp. The witness described scenes of panic and horror, as tents housing women and children were torn apart.
Hamas condemned the bombing as a war crime, calling it a brazen violation of the ceasefire agreement. In a statement posted on Telegram, the group held Israel fully responsible for what it described as a “deliberate escalation” and urged mediators of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement to intervene and halt Israel's ongoing assaults on civilians and displacement shelters.
For the past two weeks, Israel has reported repeated resistance operations against its forces in Rafah, allegedly carried out via the underground tunnel network. According to Israeli military statements, some of its soldiers have been killed or injured, prompting air raids on suspected tunnel routes. Israel claims to have killed or captured over 40 Hamas fighters in these operations.
Tel Aviv’s stated objective in Rafah is to compel the surrender and disarmament of resistance forces. Hamas, however, has rejected these terms, stating that its field commanders have opted to confront Israeli troops inside territory under occupation in the so-called “yellow line.”
During recent negotiations, Israel reportedly offered conditional amnesty to fighters sheltering in Rafah’s tunnels if they surrendered and transferred their weapons to a third party. Former US President Donald Trump echoed this proposal, suggesting an Israeli pardon in exchange for disarmament.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz admitted that approximately 60% of Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure remains intact despite more than two years of bombardment, casting doubt on the efficacy of Israel’s military strategy. Katz described the tunnels as the “backbone” of the group’s military capabilities.
Under the Gaza ceasefire terms, a second phase of negotiations is expected to begin following the recovery of Israeli remains still buried under the rubble. These talks are slated to focus on post-war governance and the disarmament of Palestinian resistance factions.
