Gaza Rafah Massacre: Israel Kills Hamas Officials

Context and Background

On July 16, 2014, the Israeli military launched Operation Protective Edge, a military operation in the Gaza Strip. The operation was launched in response to rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel. According to the United Nations, the operation has resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis.

Rafah Massacre

On July 25, 2014, the Israeli military killed two Hamas officials in an airstrike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF said that the strike was in response to rocket fire from the area. However, the United Nations said that the strike had killed at least 10 people, including seven children. The Rafah strike comes days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza. The court ruled that the offensive was "disproportionate" and had caused "unnecessary suffering" to civilians.

Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis

The fighting in Rafah has forced over 815,000 people to flee their homes. The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "catastrophic."

International Reaction

The international community has condemned the Israeli military's actions in Gaza. The United States has called for a ceasefire, and the United Nations has demanded an end to the violence.