Israeli strikes targeting the southern Gaza Strip overnight into Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals, including a senior Hamas political leader and several women and children.

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The Israeli military also issued orders for people to evacuate certain parts of Rafah, a city bordering Egypt. The military stated that they would be taking actions against militants in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, which is already heavily damaged, and instructed people to evacuate on foot via a single route to Mawasi. It was unclear if this signalled a renewed ground operation.

Israel initiated a major attack in Rafah in May when they captured a strategic corridor along the Egyptian border and a crucial crossing. Palestinians were observed walking along a road, carrying their belongings, a common scene in a conflict that has forced much of Gaza’s population to flee, often multiple times.

Mustafa Gaber, a local journalist who evacuated Tel al-Sultan with his family, described the situation as “displacement under fire.” He noted that hundreds of individuals were fleeing as tank and drone fire resonated nearby, with wounded individuals among the evacuees.

Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic language spokesperson, previously warned individuals to flee. He stated that remaining in camps, tents, or houses in Tel al-Sultan or travelling along any other route posed a danger to their lives.

Hamas confirmed that Salah Bardawil, a member of their political bureau and the Palestinian parliament, was killed in a strike in Mawasi that also claimed the life of his wife. Bardawil was a well-known member of Hamas’ political wing and had given numerous media interviews over the years.

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are allied with Hamas, launched another missile at Israel, causing air raid sirens to sound. The Israeli military reported intercepting the missile, and there were no reports of casualties or damage.

According to two hospitals in southern Gaza, strikes overnight resulted in the deaths of at least 17 individuals, including several women and children, not counting the Hamas official and his wife. The deaths occurred in the cities of Khan Younis and another southern city. The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service stated that Israeli forces were preventing their ambulances from responding to strikes in Rafah, and several of their medics had been injured.

The Palestinian Red Crescent added that there was no immediate response from the military. Israel ended their ceasefire with Hamas last week when they launched surprise airstrikes across the territory. The Houthis resumed their attacks on Israel, framing them as an act of solidarity with Palestinians, despite recent U.S. strikes on the Yemeni rebels.

The ceasefire, which was in place in January, temporarily halted 15 months of intense fighting that began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Twenty-five Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others were released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, while Israeli forces withdrew to a buffer zone. This allowed hundreds of thousands of people to return to their remaining homes, and there was an increase in humanitarian aid.

However, negotiations regarding the next phase of the truce, which were supposed to begin in early February, did not take place. Israel withdrew from the ceasefire agreement after Hamas refused Israeli and U.S.-backed proposals to release more hostages before discussions on a permanent truce.

Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage during the Oct. 7 attack. Most of the captives have been released through ceasefire agreements or other arrangements, while Israeli forces have rescued eight individuals alive and recovered dozens of bodies.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 49,747 Palestinians, with women and children making up more than half of the fatalities. However, the records do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel states that they have killed around 20,000 militants, but evidence has not been provided.

The military campaign has destroyed vast regions of Gaza, displacing around 90% of the population at its peak. Earlier this month, Israel sealed off the territory of two million Palestinians, restricting access to food, fuel, medication, and other supplies, in an attempt to pressure Hamas to modify the ceasefire agreement.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/03/23/israeli-strikes-kill-19-in-gaza-including-senior-hamas-political-leader