A girl collects items from the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
GAZA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 Palestinians were killed in intensive Israeli airstrikes in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Tuesday.
The security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of airstrikes targeting more than 11 populated residential homes in various areas of Rafah, adding that Israeli artillery also shelled agricultural lands on the eastern outskirts of Rafah.
Medical sources told Xinhua that 20 were killed, including women and children, and several wounded.
The civil defense agency said that its affiliated teams continue to search for missing people under the rubble of targeted homes in Rafah.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said that its forces launched a surprise operation to neutralize targets belonging to Hamas east of Rafah and achieved operational control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on social media platform X that the operation was based on intelligence from the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Military Intelligence Directorate.
He confirmed the continuation of Israeli army forces' work in the area. ■
People inspect a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People are seen in a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
A man inspects a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Poeple inspect a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People inspect a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People inspect a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
A man stands on the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People sit among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
