Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 20 following Hamas assault

Early Tuesday morning, Israeli Air Force strikes targeted the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and a refugee camp in the central area, killing 20 Palestinians, according to Palestinian medical sources.

In the airstrikes on Rafah, a city close to the Egyptian border that shelters over a million Palestinians, 14 people were killed and dozens injured.

Palestinian medical services report that six individuals lost their lives due to rocket fire at the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, situated in the central Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip were initiated in retaliation to an October 6, 2023, assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which resulted in 1200 fatalities and involved more than 250 terrorists taking hostages.

Palestinian sources indicate that the Israeli military assaults have caused over 31,000 Palestinian deaths, the majority being civilians.

Peace talks concerning a ceasefire and hostage release are set to resume Monday in Qatar, where the Israeli delegation has headed. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt are playing roles in mediating the discussions between Hamas and Israel.