At least 10 people have been injured in rocket strikes in southern Israel following launches from the Gaza Strip, according to local media. It’s unclear which group launched the attack but Israel has been engaged in a bloody war with terror groups in the area including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The launch has prompted top Israeli officials to urge the invasion of Rafah in sourthern Gaza – a move Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out in the face of pressure from key allies including the US.
The launches were reportedly carried out from near the city and led to injuries around Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza. Local media quoted the Eshkol Regional Council as saying: “Several rockets exploded in an open area, near a military installation and there are casualties on the spot. The victims are not residents of the council and we pray for their safety.”
The attack has sparked outcry among Israeli politicians and officials with Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir stating: “We did not attack in Gaza and received the seventh of October, we did not attack in Rafah and received a precise attack. Netanyahu, enter Rafah now!”
Minister of Settlements and National Missions, Orit Struck echoed the setement adding: “The shooting at Kerem Shalom is the clearest answer by Hamas to the ongoing hesitation on the verge of entering Rafah. It’s either us, or them. The Israeli answer must also be clear: Rafah immediately!”
The news came amid reports of rocket launches by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon towards northern Israel.
Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to US officials familiar with the talks.
The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity to speak about the sensitive exchange, said that the plan detailed by the Israelis did not change the US administration’s view that moving forward with an operation in Rafah would put too many innocent Palestinian civilians at risk.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to carry out a military operation in Rafah despite warnings from President Joe Biden and other western officials that doing so would result in more civilian deaths and worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.