Israeli Strikes Spark Deadly Gaza Violence

Hamas and the Palestinian Authority said Israeli airstrikes on a center for displaced people near Rafah killed dozens, while Israel's army said it targeted Hamas militants.

The Gaza health ministry reported 35 killed and dozens injured, "most of them children and women." Hamas said the attack hit a UN refugee agency center, calling it a "horrific massacre."

Israel's military said it struck a Hamas compound in Rafah, killing two senior West Bank officials of the militant group. It added it was "aware of reports" civilians were harmed and the incident is under review.

At least eight rockets were fired at central Israel from Rafah, with strikes targeting Tel Aviv for the first time in months as fighting centered on the city despite a ground offensive launched there in May over civilian concerns.

The Palestinian Red Crescent transported many killed and injured. The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of "deliberately targeting" displaced people's tents. Gaza's civil defense said at least 50 were killed or wounded in strikes where 100,000 displaced live.

Hamas urged Palestinians to "rise up and march" against the attack. Before a war cabinet meeting on a potential hostage deal, PM Netanyahu vowed to pursue Israel's offensive, rejecting Hamas's demand to permanently end the conflict it triggered on October 7.

The EU's Josep Borrell, meeting the Palestinian PM, said "we need a strong Palestinian Authority" for peace. The PM prioritized aiding Gaza and rebuilding PA institutions there after Hamas's 2007 takeover.

As the war grinds on, hostage families pressed Netanyahu over a release deal. Amnesty International urged the ICC to investigate recent Israeli strikes killing 44 Palestinian civilians as potential war crimes.

Hamas said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv "in response to Zionist massacres against civilians." Israel said Hamas launched them near Rafah mosques. The UN warned of looming famine in besieged Gaza.