Four IDF soldiers were killed and 11 more people were wounded this afternoon (Sunday) by mortars and rockets launched from Rafah at the area of the Kerem Shalom border crossing. There were ten launches from the Rafah area.
The rocket launches were carried out approximately 350 meters from civilian shelters in Rafah, the IDF stated.
The wounded were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Three of the wounded were earlier reported to be in serious condition, but were later pronounced dead, they are SSgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, 19 from Raanana, SSgt. Ido Testa, 19 from Jerusalem, and SSgt. Tal Shavit, 21 from Kfar Hagiladi.
In the Eshkol Regional Council, it was reported that several rockets exploded in an open area near a military facility, and there were casualties. "The injured are not residents of the council and we pray for their recovery," it was stated.
The IDF stated. "Following the sirens that sounded in the area of Kerem Shalom, approximately 10 projectile launches were identified crossing from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom. The Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks."
The Hamas terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kerem Shalom Crossing.
Israel's Foreign Ministry wrote on X: "While the IDF is facilitating humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, terrorists fire rockets into the same area."
"Israel remains committed to providing life-saving aid while Hamas remains committed to destroying lives," the ministry stated.
Just moments before, a heavy barrage of about thirty rockets was fired from Lebanon toward Kiryat Shmona and the surrounding area. In Kiryat Shmona, a rocket hit a building and a vehicle, causing damage to the site.
Magen David Adom (MDA) medics and paramedics provided medical treatment on-site to a 65-year-old man in light condition and fully conscious who was struck by shrapnel. In addition, a MDA intensive care unit was damaged by shrapnel.
The police are dealing with several fall sites around the city of Kiryat Shmona. Northern district forces, including bomb disposal experts, are now isolating the sites where the rockets landed and scanning for additional rocket remains, to remove further risk to the public.