The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has reported a grim toll from recent hostilities in the Gaza Strip, with 18 people confirmed dead and 35 injured following targeted attacks on tents housing displaced individuals in the Mawasi area of Rafah, located in the west of the governorate.

The violence erupted as part of ongoing clashes, marking yet another tragic chapter in the long-standing conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups. The PRCS has been at the forefront of providing emergency medical care and relief in the region, working tirelessly under increasingly dangerous conditions.

“These attacks have devastated the lives of displaced families who had already suffered the trauma of losing their homes,” said a spokesperson for the PRCS. “Our teams have been working around the clock to provide medical assistance and support to those affected, but the situation on the ground remains dire.”

Eyewitnesses in Mawasi described scenes of chaos and destruction, with tents shredded by blasts and survivors scrambling for safety amid the debris. Many of those injured were women and children, adding to the mounting civilian toll of the conflict.

The PRCS has called for immediate international intervention to halt the violence and ensure the protection of civilians. The organisation also emphasized the need for safe passage for medical teams and supplies to reach affected areas without delay.

As the situation continues to unfold, the PRCS and other aid organisations are bracing for further casualties. The latest incidents in Rafah underscore the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the conflict and the protection of vulnerable populations caught in the crossfire.