Israeli Military Reports 40 Hamas Combatants Killed in Rafah Tunnel Operation

The Israeli military stated that its forces killed approximately 40 Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza city of Rafah last week. According to an army spokesperson, the combatants were trapped inside a tunnel network targeted during the operation. The military described the incident as a coordinated strike. Forces located the tunnel entrance and engaged after identifying the fighters inside, the statement said. There has been no immediate comment from Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, regarding the Israeli claim. The reported operation is part of Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Rafah area. International aid organizations have repeatedly expressed deep concern for the safety of over one million civilians who had been sheltering in Rafah. The city was previously a major hub for humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.