"We Heard a Loud Sound, Our Children Woke Up and Screamed": Eyewitnesses of Rafah Strike

The Rafah refugee camp in Gaza has become a symbol of the devastating human toll of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In a harrowing attack on Sunday night, an Israeli airstrike turned the camp into a scene of unimaginable horror, with flames engulfing tents and the cries of burn victims piercing the night. 

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the airstrike targeted displaced Palestinians seeking refuge, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

Gaza's civil defence agency confirmed that the death toll from the overnight strikes had risen to 45, describing the aftermath as a "massacre." 

"We saw charred bodies and dismembered limbs," said Mohammad al-Mughayyir, an official from the civil defence agency. 

"We also saw cases of amputations, wounded children, women, and the elderly." 

The intensity of the flames left many bodies charred beyond recognition, and numerous victims sustained severe injuries.

The chaotic and tragic scenes were captured by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, showing paramedics working tirelessly to evacuate the wounded, including many children. 

One survivor recounted the terrifying moments after the strike: "We had just finished evening prayers. 

Our children were asleep when we heard a loud sound, and suddenly there was fire all around us. The children were screaming... the sound was terrifying."

Bilal al-Sapti, a 30-year-old construction worker from Rafah, described the devastation he witnessed. 

"The fire was very strong and was all over the camp," he said. 

"There was darkness and no electricity." Despite the widespread destruction, his family miraculously survived.

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for the airstrike, stating that their aircraft targeted a Hamas compound in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of two senior Hamas operatives, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. 

They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties due to the strike and the subsequent fire, stating that the incident was under investigation.

The airstrike sparked strong reactions from neighbouring Arab nations. 

Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar condemned the attack, with Qatar warning that it could hinder ongoing efforts to revive truce and hostage release talks in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has been ongoing since October 7.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) described the attack as "horrifying" and shared on social media that the images from the site were "yet another testament" to the dire conditions in Gaza. Multiple videos showed fires raging through the camp and people desperately pulling bodies from the rubble.

By morning, the charred remains of tents and vehicles were all that was left of the Kuwaiti Al-Salam Camp 1 in Rafah. 

An aid group, Al-Salam Association for Humanitarian and Charitable Works, reported that besides the dozens of deaths and injuries, over 120 tents and several facilities were destroyed. 

Dr. Marwan al-Hams, a healthcare worker, described the horrific injuries: "Many of the dead bodies were severely burned, had amputated limbs and were torn to pieces."

The UN reported that one million civilians had fled Rafah since the start of Israel's assault in early May, despite numerous international warnings against the escalating violence. 

This conflict, the deadliest in Gaza's history, began with a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,189 Israeli deaths and 252 hostages taken. 

Israel's response has been relentless, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 36,096 deaths, mostly civilians.

The Rafah refugee camp airstrike underscores the profound human suffering caused by the ongoing conflict. 

Eyewitness accounts reveal the depth of the tragedy, with families torn apart and lives shattered in an instant. 

As the international community watches in horror, the urgent need for a resolution to this devastating conflict becomes ever more apparent.