Gaza war: 16 killed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah following rocket attack by Hamas

Sixteen peoplewere killedin Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip's Rafah city, the news agency AFP reported early Monday (May 6), citing medics and first responders."The toll of martyrs in Rafah reached 16," emergency first responders told AFP, adding that seven people from one family and nine from anotherfamily were killed in the Israeli attacks.

Medical sources, meanwhile, confirmedtwo strikes they said took place at two different locations around Rafah.

'Three Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas attack'

The airstrikes came hours after Hamas claimed responsibility for a rocket attack near RafahwhichIsraelsaid killed three of its soldiers and injured 11 more. Hamas' armed wing said it fired rocketsat an Israeli army base by the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza.

The Israeli military confirmed the counter-strike, saying it struck the launcher from which the Hamas projectileswere fired, as well as a nearby "military structure."The military said10projectiles were launched fromRafahin southern Gaza towards the area of Kerem Shalom, which it said was now closed for aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. Other crossings remained open.

"The launches carried out by Hamas adjacent to the Rafah Crossing ... are a clear example of the terrorist organisation's systematic exploitation of humanitarian facilities and spaces and their continued use of the Gazan civilian population as human shields," the military added.

Hamas delegation to be in Qatar for truce talks

Sunday's attacks came as hopes dimmed for ceasefire talks between the warring factions. A Hamas official said that the group'sdelegation for Gaza truce talks in Cairo was leaving for "consultations" in Qatar after public disagreement with Israel intensified over demands to end their seven-month war.

Also watch |Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes

The official, whochose to remainanonymous, told AFP that "the meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has endedandthe Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations."

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "surrendering" to a demand to end the war would amount to defeat.

(With inputs from agencies)