Those killed were in an area where Palestinians have been displaced and live in tent camps.
The death toll is likely to rise as search and rescue efforts continue in Rafah’s Tal al-Sultan neighborhood west of the city center, a spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent told AP.
According to the Red Crescent, the site had been designated by Israel as a “humanitarian area”.
Extensive destruction
Pictures from the area show extensive destruction. The Israeli army says in a statement that it is not aware of any activity in the area, according to the AP.
The attack comes two days after The UN International Court of Justice in The Hague, ICJ, ordered Israel to cease the offensive in Rafah.
Earlier on Sunday, Hamas had fired rockets from Gaza that reached as far as Tel Aviv for the first time in months.
During the day, Israel’s war cabinet had also gathered to discuss developments in Gaza. Ahead of the meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he is against an end to military operations in Rafah.