Israeli airstrike in Rafah kills at least eight people including three women

(24 Feb 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: INCLUDES GRAPHIC FOOTAGE OF WRAPPED BODIES ASSOCIATED PRESS Rafah, Gaza Strip - 24 February 2024 1. Various of people gathering near destroyed building after Israeli airstrike 2. Various of people combing through rubble 3. Various of bulldozer removing rubble 4. Various of people gathering near site of strike 5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hassan Ishta, local resident: “There was a strong explosion so I came down and saw dead bodies and the whole world was upside down and people were pulling out the dead. They were small kids, women and children. The house was full and there were displaced people in it too.“ 6. Various of destruction, including blood stain on rubble 7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul-Qader Shubeir, local resident: “We ran out and found everything burning and the homes were destroyed. We were totally lost then we found burning bodies and no one was able to extinguish them or get close to them. The whole area was full of dust. We were among the first time as we left from a back door of our house and we started putting off the fire on people and remove them. The flesh melted on the stones. Enough, enough. Either the Israelis or us should stop. There should be a truce.“ 8. Various of people evacuating children and leaving area 9. Rubble on the ground 10. Various of women mourning over the wrapped bodies of their relatives AUDIO AS INCOMING 11. Various of people praying for victims AUDIO AS INCOMING STORYLINE: An Israeli airstrike on a home in the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed eight people, including three women, hospital officials and Associated Press journalists said. The strike hit the home where some of those who had been displaced by the conflict were staying, according to witnesses. The bodies of the five men and three women were taken to hospital where a special prayers was held before the funeral. Israel declared war after the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages. More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza. The steadily rising civilian death toll and a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have amplified calls for a cease-fire. Hunger and infectious diseases are spreading and some 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, with about 1.4 million crowded into the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the bodies of 92 Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours, raising the overall toll in nearly five months of war to 29,606. The total number of wounded rose to nearly 70,000. Israeli officials have said that the army plans to carry out an operation in Rafah that has so far been spared much of the fighting. A ground operation in Rafah could cut off one of the only avenues for delivering food and medical supplies. AP video by Mohammad Jahjouh Production by Wafaa Shurafa =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel 44(0)2074827482 Email: info@. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: