Overnight airstrikes by Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah resulted in the tragic loss of 18 lives, predominantly children, between ongoing deliberations among U.S. lawmakers regarding an aid package earmarked for Israel.
According to officials at the Kuwaiti Hospital, the initial Israeli strike claimed the lives of a man, his wife, and their 3-year-old child. Remarkably, medical efforts managed to save the unborn child, although the mother was pregnant at the time of the attack.
In a subsequent strike, 13 children and two women from the same family fell victim to the violence, as reported by the Associated Press, referencing hospital records.
Israeli strikes on southern Gaza (Credits: Los Angeles Times)
These devastating incidents come in the midst of a backdrop of sustained Israeli military operations following an unprecedented assault by Hamas on Israel since October 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to dismantle the Hamas militant group, leading to continued targeting of Gaza-based militants.
President Biden has repeatedly cautioned Israel against a full-scale invasion of Rafah, a city where over a million civilians have sought refuge under Israeli advisement. In a communication with Netanyahu in February, Biden emphasized the need for a cautious approach to any potential Rafah operation.
Despite these warnings, Netanyahu recently announced plans for an invasion into Rafah, heightening concerns for civilian casualties and escalating tensions in the region.
Israel-Hamas War (Credits: Bloomberg.com)
The toll of the conflict is staggering, with over 34,000 Palestinians reported dead by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Calls for a ceasefire have echoed from world leaders and humanitarian organizations as the civilian population in Gaza faces increasingly dire conditions.
In parallel developments, the House of Representatives approved a comprehensive foreign aid package over the weekend after delays in the legislative process.
The package, now pending Senate approval, allocates approximately $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian assistance in Gaza, and $8 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan.
