A series of aerial bombardments launched overnight Sunday into Monday in Rafah, a Gaza Strip city on the closed border with Egypt, killed at least eight people, according to officials in the ruling Hamas health ministry. in the Palestinian enclave since 2007.

Eight bodies were taken to the European hospital in Khan Younis, the sources said, also citing dozens of other wounded.

According to sources close to the Palestinian security forces and eyewitnesses, among others six houses and two Islamic mosques were bombed.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it “conducted a series of raids against terrorist positions in the southern Gaza Strip,” adding that its strikes were “completed,” without elaborating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his army days ago to prepare to launch an attack on Rafah.

But aid groups warn that a large-scale operation in the city would be disastrous. At least 1.3 million displaced people from other areas of the Palestinian enclave have taken refuge in the city.

Before previous such operations, the Israeli army ordered civilians to leave, but did not publicize a specific plan for their immediate removal.