The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 50 people have been killed and scores injured in an explosion at a refugee camp near Rafah.<\/p>\n
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed carrying out an air strike targeting a Hamas compound in the area. It says it is reviewing the incident.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day Hamas fired eight rockets from Rafah towards Tel Aviv, the first long-range attacks on the city since January.<\/p>\n
Videos from the southern Gaza Strip show a large explosion and intense fires burning.<\/p>\n
Hamas said an Israeli air strike had hit a camp for displaced Palestinians north-west of Rafah, away from recent military operations in a designated humanitarian safe zone.<\/p>\n
It says women and children are among the dead.<\/p>\n
The IDF confirmed it had targeted Hamas militants in the area and said it was aware of reports the strike had ignited a fire which harmed civilians.<\/p>\n
It was reviewing the incident but said it had used precision weapons against legitimate targets.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Sunday air raid sirens sounded around Tel Aviv<\/a> as central Israel came under attack by Hamas rockets, fired from close to Rafah.<\/p>\n The eight rockets were either intercepted by air defence systems or fell in fields.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s military offensive has continued in Rafah, despite the International Court of Justice ruling on Friday that it must halt<\/a>.<\/p>\n The rocket barrage highlights the threat Hamas still poses to people across Israel, although there were no reports of injuries.<\/p>\n It also illustrates the challenges the Israeli army faces as it moves further into southern Gaza to oust Hamas from what it calls its \u201clast major stronghold\u201d.<\/p>\n The rocket attack came ahead of further ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which are expected to resume next week.<\/p>\n The military wing of Hamas said it had acted in response to “the massacre of civilians”.<\/p>\n Israel began a long-anticipated offensive in Rafah about three weeks ago<\/a>, vowing to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there.<\/p>\n It says it believes Israeli hostages are also being held in the town.<\/p>\n The UN says more than 800,000 Palestinians have fled from Rafah since the offensive began.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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