In a dramatic escalation of the Gaza conflict, the Israeli military has reported the death of senior Hamas commander Rafa Salama in a ferocious airstrike on Saturday. The strike, which turned parts of Khan Younis into a smoking ruin, has yet to be confirmed by Hamas. This is the official line in most media But as I see it, this is war and Hamas are the terrorists that killed their citizens.
The Hamas-run health ministry painted a grim picture: the airstrike obliterated a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, a zone designated for humanitarian relief. The death toll stands at 90, with 289 injured. Israel’s justification for the strike? They claimed it targeted senior Hamas figures. Hamas shot back, calling it a “false” pretext to rationalize the assault.
IDF says senior Hamas commander Rafa Salama killed in Israeli air strike
#IDF #Hamas #IsraeliAirStrike #RafaSalama #MiddleEastConflict pic.twitter.com/ADp5r5bpao— Uncensored Vox (@UncensoredVox) July 15, 2024
Eyewitnesses described an apocalyptic scene with massive warplanes bombing the Al Mawasi area, turning it into a hellscape of burning wreckage and human carnage. Most of the injured were rushed to Nasser hospital, a facility now crippled by the influx. Dr. Mohammed Abu Rayya, speaking to BBC’s Newshour, likened the aftermath to “hell,” noting the prevalence of multiple shrapnel wounds among the injured, many of whom were women and children.
Salama, a linchpin in the Khan Younis Brigade, was deemed a mastermind of the October 7 attacks and a close confidant of Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s elusive top military commander. The strike also aimed at Deif, whose fate remains shrouded in mystery. Deif has been a ghostly figure, evading Israeli forces for decades while orchestrating numerous deadly operations.
#FirstpostAmerica: The Israeli Army said it killed a senior Hamas commander named Rafa Salama in an airstrike in the Al-Mawasi town in Gaza. The army also claimed that it targeted the top commander of Hamas’ military wing Mohammed Deif. @EKH2016 tells you more. pic.twitter.com/exFRmHYrKQ
— Firstpost (@firstpost) July 15, 2024
The IDF and ISA, in a joint declaration, detailed Salama’s deep roots in Hamas, tracing his militant path back to the early 1990s. Salama’s death, they asserted, would significantly cripple Hamas’s military prowess. Yet, a Hamas official condemned the attack as a “grave escalation,” accusing Israel of sabotaging ceasefire efforts.
Additional documentation of the first moments of yesterday’s attack in #Khan_Yunis in which, as mentioned, according to the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, Rafa Salama, Brigadier General of Khan Yunis, was killed in the attack. pic.twitter.com/Yjg3W0GFPV
— Abu Ali Express English (@AbuAliEnglishB1) July 14, 2024
Ceasefire negotiations in Qatar and Egypt collapsed on Friday, overshadowed by the recent violence. The Gaza health ministry reported a staggering toll: since October 7, at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military onslaught, with Israel losing 326 soldiers.
Major Points
- Israeli airstrike reportedly kills senior Hamas commander Rafa Salama, though Hamas has not confirmed.
- The strike devastated a humanitarian zone in Khan Younis, killing 90 and injuring 289, overwhelming local hospitals.
- Eyewitnesses described the scene as apocalyptic, with massive warplanes bombing the Al Mawasi area.
- Israel claimed the strike aimed to disrupt Hamas’s military leadership, including Mohammed Deif.
- Ceasefire talks in Qatar and Egypt failed amid ongoing violence, with heavy casualties reported on both sides.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
