Falcon powers – Eleven Israelis, including several classified as being in critical condition, were injured on Sunday as a result of the firing of 20 artillery shells from Gaza towards the “Kerem Shalom” settlement, according to Israeli reports.
The reports stated that the artillery shells fell near a military site in Kerem Abu Salem. In response, the Israeli occupation forces launched airstrikes and artillery attacks on sites in Rafah on an exceptional scale.
The occupation forces decided to close the Kerem Abu Salem crossing and halt the movement of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip. The regional council of “Eshkol” stated in a statement that “several shells fell in an open area near a military site, causing injuries.”
Meanwhile, the Hebrew news site “Walla” reported that the number of casualties resulting from the firing of mortar shells from Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, towards the “Kerem Shalom” settlement (Kerem Abu Salem) in the border area has risen to 10, including 3 in critical condition.
The leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, called for the immediate closure of all crossings with the Gaza Strip in retaliatory response to the artillery targeting of the Kerem Abu Salem site.
Furthermore, the voices of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies grew louder, as they renewed their demand for an immediate invasion of Rafah.
The extremist National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, said, “We did not attack Gaza, and we obtained the seventh of October (referring to a previous military operation), and we did not attack Rafah, but we obtained a precise strike, and I demand that Netanyahu enter Rafah now.”
The Al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement in which they claimed responsibility for “shelling enemy forces’ concentrations in the ‘Kerem Abu Salem’ site and its surroundings with short-range ‘Rajum’ missiles of 114mm caliber.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant addressed the occupation army soldiers at the “Netzarim” crossing separating the Gaza Strip, stating that they “observe indications that Hamas is not interested in progressing towards a deal. The message is clear: there will be a strong operation in Rafah in the near future, as well as in other locations throughout the Gaza Strip.”
