On Sunday, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for rocket fire around Kerem Shalom, the primary crossing point for humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to their statement, they targeted “enemy forces” in Kerem Abu Salem and its surroundings with short-range rockets. A video showing gunfire was released alongside the statement.
The Israeli military responded by striking a launcher from which 10 projectiles were fired toward Kerem Shalom. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) also struck a military structure located in the launcher area. Israel condemned Hamas for firing near the Rafah crossing, which is only 350 meters from civilian shelters. They criticized Hamas for exploiting humanitarian facilities and civilian populations in Gaza as human shields. This incident highlights Hamas’s use of civilian spaces for military purposes.
