12 February 2024 Rafah strikes

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12 February 2024 Rafah strikes
Part of the Rafah offensive
LocationRafah, southern Gaza
Date12 February 2024
Attack type
Airstrikes
Deaths83+
InjuredUnknown
Perpetrators Israel

On 12 February 2024, Israel Defense Forces launched an assault on Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip, killing over 83 people.[1][2] The airstrikes destroyed at least one mosque and multiple inhabited homes, killing most or all of their occupants.

Israeli government sources linked the airstrikes to its hostage rescue operation, Operation Golden Hand, describing the airstrikes as a diversion or "covering fire."[2][3][4] Israel freed two hostages in that operation.[5] The strikes came as Israel proposed a ground invasion of the city, which caused international concern.[6] The killings are known in Gaza as "the Super Bowl Massacre."[7]

Casualties from the Israeli bombings began to reported by 2:30am and 20 were confirmed dead by 5:30am.[8] The total number of deaths was estimated as at least 94 people according to the Palestinian Health Ministry[9] and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has estimated the death toll to be over 100.[10] According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which pulled information from Rafah hospitals the dead included at least 27 children and 22 women.[11] The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor compiled a list of 83 people killed, of whom 29 were children and another third were women (as identified by their names).[2]

Background

On October 7, 2023, Hamas led an invasion into Israel, which led to the death of 1,100 Israelis and taking hundreds hostage.[12] This event was the catalyst for the Israel–Hamas war.[13] During four months of Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, over 28,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom were civilians.[14] The war has led to an international wave of protests and calls for Israel to be charged with genocide, with Israel adamant that the war won't stop until all of the hostages are freed and Hamas is dissolved.[15]

In October 2023, Israel ordered evacuations in Northern Gaza for Israeli operations against Hamas, causing concern from human rights groups.[16] Previous evacuation orders had instructed Palestinian civilians to go to Rafah, leading to the area to hold about 1.4 million Palestinians. Israeli officials have raised allegations that they believe senior Hamas officials are sheltering in Rafah along with the remaining hostages. Many of the evacuees are in overcrowded conditions within Rafah, with many crowded into houses or tents, with some even sleeping on the streets with no cover.[17] Rafah is reportedly the last major population center in Gaza not occupied by the IDF, with others that have taken over reported as wastelands with total destruction, bodies left in the streets and civilians resorting to drinking out of toilets for water.[1]

In February 2024, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to plan evacuations in Rafah, which along with the airstrikes has caused concern from organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations.[18][19][20] Netanyahu reportedly spoke against calls for Israel to avoid carrying out a military offensive in Rafah claiming it was a smuggling haven for Hamas.[21]

Airstrikes

According to the Associated Press, Israeli airstrikes on Rafah began at 1:50am local time on 12 February, one minute after the start of a hostage rescue operation in a house in the Shaboura area of Rafah.[8] The Israeli military claimed that it had conducted a series of airstrikes on targets in the Shaboura area of Rafah, while the Rafah municipality claimed at least two mosques and about a dozen homes were targeted.[1] Reporting and analysis of satellite imagery concluded that the airstrikes extended far beyond Shaboura.[2]

The Israeli government stated that the night's airstrikes, that resulted in the deaths of at least 67 civilians, were conducted as a diversion in order to rescue two hostages.[22] Israeli intentions with the strikes, as described by military spokesman Major Nir Dinar were: "to hit Hamas military command centers, confuse the militants, sever contact between the hostages’ captors and their commanders, and provide cover for the escape."[23]

A civilian who had been sheltering in Rafah stated that the night was indescribable, and he and others around him thought that the IDF was invading Rafah due to the amount of airstrikes.[24] Among the locations struck were the Al-Huda mosque, and the family homes of the Abu-Jazar, Hassouna, and Al-Shaer families. Libération newspaper geolocated these sites as between 1.5 and 2.2 kilometers away from the hostage rescue.[2] Eighteen members of the Abu-Jazar family were killed in their home in the Badr refugee camp, including an infant and three young Qwaider children who were cousins of the Abu-Jazars.[2] The Hassouna family, who rented a house after fleeing violence elsewhere in Gaza, was attacked by an airstrike to their one-story house, which was destroyed, killing eight family members, including two children.[25] Among them was Sidra Hassouna, who was thrown out of the building and left hanging from a wall. Photos of Sidra Hassouna's lifeless body widely circulated on social media. The Hasounas were relatives of Palestine's Ambassador the UK, Husam Zomlot.[26] Eight members of the Al-Shaer family, spanning three generations, were killed in their home, which was collapsed by an airstrike.[2] Other sites were struck and the AP reported that the airstrikes "flatten[ed] several residential blocks in a built-up refugee camp."[8] Following the hostage rescue operation, the site where the hostages were held was leveled.[2]

The Al-Huda mosque was largely destroyed,[2][27] but parishioners held worship services in the remains of the building on February 23.[28]

These actions have been interpreted as possible war crimes.[29][30]

Hostage rescue

Main article: Operation Golden Hand
See also: Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis § Rescue operations

The rescue mission is the second successful rescue mission of a hostage during the Israel-Hamas war, with the first occurring on October 30, 2023.[31] An IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, told reporters the rescue attempt was a covert operation and happened at around 1:49 am local time, with the airstrikes following a few minutes later.[1] IDF soldiers reportedly broke into a second floor apartment where the men were being held, and fired against militants guarding them throughout the building. When the airstrikes began the soldiers reportedly covered the hostages with their bodies to protect from debris. The rescue attempt lasted about an hour and resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers.[31] The reported hostages were identified as Fernando Simon Marman (aged 60) and Luis Har (aged 70), who are both dual Israeli-Argentine citizens and had been kidnapped from the Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak.[17][31]

Aftermath

A Hamas spokesperson called the airstrikes a series of "horrific massacres against defenseless civilians and displaced children, women and the elderly".[31]

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan has stated that the reports coming from Rafah were cause for deep concern and seemed to be ignoring laws of armed conflict.[17] Some such as sports commentator Dave Zirin called it the "Super Bowl Massacre" due to their concurrence with Super Bowl LVIII.[32][33][unreliable source?] Harvard University students participated in a "die-in" at Widener Library to protest against the airstrikes, which was publicized online by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, and other groups.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Regan, Helen; Salman, Abeer (2024-02-12). "Israeli airstrikes kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Horn, Alexandre. "«Massacre du Super Bowl» à Rafah : les frappes de Tsahal lors de la libération des otages ont tué des dizaines de civils, dont une trentaine d'enfants". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2024-02-12). "Here is how Israel said it freed 2 hostages from Gaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  4. ^ Ravid, Barak (2024-02-12). "Israeli military rescues two hostages held in the Gaza city of Rafah, officials say". Axios. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ Kingsley, Patrick; Yazbek, Hiba (2024-02-12). "Israeli Raid in Rafah Rescues 2 Hostages and Kills Dozens, Officials Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  6. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (2024-02-12). "U.S., U.N. and International Criminal Court Intensify Warnings Against Invading Rafah". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  7. ^ Horn, Alexandre. "«Massacre du Super Bowl» à Rafah : les frappes de Tsahal lors de la libération des otages ont tué des dizaines de civils, dont une trentaine d'enfants". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-28. Mais si la nuit du 11 au 12 février est associée, en Israël, à ce succès, elle porte pour les Gazaouis le nom funeste de «massacre du Super Bowl»
  8. ^ a b c "Timeline of the Israeli raid in Gaza that rescued two hostages and killed dozens of Palestinians". AP News. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  9. ^ Regan, Helen (2024-02-12). "Israeli airstrikes kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  10. ^ a b Edwards, Sally; Sonnad-Joshi, Aran (February 12, 2024). "Nearly 200 Harvard Students Hold 'Die-In' Protesting Airstrikes on Rafah | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  11. ^ "Airstrike from Israeli hostage rescue wipes out entire Palestinian family in Gaza border town". AP News. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  12. ^ Boxerman, Aaron (2023-11-10). "Israel-Hamas War: Israel Lowers Oct. 7 Death Toll Estimate to 1,200". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  13. ^ "Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation". AP News. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  14. ^ "Gaza death toll passes 28,000 as Israeli assault on Rafah looms". euronews. 2024-02-10. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  15. ^ "Netanyahu rejects Hamas's proposed ceasefire terms". BBC News. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  16. ^ "Why Israel's Gaza Evacuation Order is So Alarming | Human Rights Watch". 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  17. ^ a b c Berger, Miriam; Loveluck, Louisa; Harb, Hajar (February 12, 2024). "Panic mounts in Rafah over looming Israeli offensive after night strikes". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "Netanyahu orders military to plan Rafah evacuation". BBC News. 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  19. ^ Said, Summer; Jones, Rory; Keller-Lynn, Carrie (12 Feb 2024). "Israel Proposes Rafah Evacuation Despite U.S. Concerns". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  20. ^ "UN 'will not be party' to Rafah evacuation due to lack of safe refuge in Gaza". Times of Israel. Feb 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  21. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (11 February 2024). "PM says Rafah offensive key to victory as Hamas threatens to torpedo hostage talks". The Times of Israel. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Ravid, Barak (11 Feb 2024). "Israeli military rescues two hostages held in the Gaza city of Rafah, officials say". Axios. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  23. ^ Kingsley, Patrick (2024-02-12). "Middle East Crisis: How Israeli Commandos Rescued 2 Hostages in Gaza". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  24. ^ Zirin, Dave (2024-02-12). "The First Thing We Should Remember About the Super Bowl Is the Massacre". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  25. ^ "Airstrike from Israeli hostage rescue wipes out entire Palestinian family in Gaza border town". AP News. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  26. ^ Sinmaz, Emine (2024-02-16). "Palestinian ambassador to UK says eight relatives killed in Israeli strikes in Rafah". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  27. ^ "Israel Is Counting on Middle East Neighbors to Help Rebuild Gaza". Bloomberg.com. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  28. ^ "Palestinians perform Friday prayers in the ruins of Al-Huda Mosque". EPA. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  29. ^ Deutsch, Anthony (13 Feb 2024). "ICC prosecutor 'deeply concerned' by situation in Gaza's Rafah". Reuters. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  30. ^ Bicer, Aysu. "Amnesty UK report gives evidence on possible war crimes by Israel in Gaza city of Rafah". AA. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d Rubin, Shira (February 12, 2024). "Israeli army rescues two hostages amid deadly airstrikes on Rafah". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  32. ^ Zirin, Dave (12 Feb 2024). "The First Thing We Should Remember About the Super Bowl Is the Massacre". The Nation. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  33. ^ Crimmins, Tricia (12 Feb 2024). "'I doubt this is a coincidence': Israel's bombing of Rafah during the big game dubbed 'Super Bowl Massacre'". Daily Dot. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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