The Palestinian Hamas movement’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, claimed responsibility for rocket fire near Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This led to the closure of the crossing by Israeli authorities. The brigades stated that they struck enemy forces in the area with short-range rockets, as shown in a video accompanying their statement.
Following the rocket fire, Israel accused Hamas of launching projectiles from near civilian shelters and using civilians as human shields. In response, Israeli fighter jets targeted a launcher in the Rafah Crossing area and also struck a military structure there. The escalation of violence in the region highlights the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.
The closure of Kerem Shalom crossing impacts humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza’s people, exacerbating an already dire situation in the region. Urgent efforts are needed to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution to this conflict that prevents further harm to civilians on both sides.