The Ezzedine al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, claimed responsibility on Sunday for rocket fire around Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which led the Israeli army to close it. The al-Qassam Brigades stated that they had “struck enemy forces” on Kerem Abu Salem and its surroundings with short-range rockets. A video showing gunfire was released alongside the statement.
According to an Israeli statement posted on social media, approximately 10 projectiles were fired from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded by striking the launcher from which the projectiles were fired and a military structure located in the launcher area.
The State of Israel condemned Hamas for firing near the Rafah crossing, which is located only 350 meters from civilian shelters. They criticized Hamas for using humanitarian facilities and civilian populations in Gaza as human shields. This incident is seen as an example of the terrorist organization’s exploitation of civilian spaces for military purposes.