Latest news about Israel, Gaza and Rafah: 3 countries officially recognize the State of Palestine
An Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza city of Rafah that killed dozens of displaced Palestinians drew widespread international condemnation on Monday, with world leaders calling for immediate action. investigate the attack and increase pressure on Israel to end its military campaign in the south.
President Emmanuel Macron of France said on Monday he was “outraged” by the blast and called for “full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire.”
“These activities must stop,” he said, referring to Sunday’s strike. “Have There is no safe area in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.”
The attack came just two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its assault on the city. An Israeli military legal official said the attack was under review.
Volker Türk, the head of the United Nations human rights agency, said: “What is clearly shocking is that to attack such a densely populated area, this is a completely predictable result. Okay”.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said at a press conference On Monday, he plans to ask other foreign ministers from European Union member states to support World Court rulings against Israel and take measures if Israel continues its activities in Rafah .
António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, condemned Israel’s actions in a post on X.
“There is no safe place in Gaza” Mr. Guterres wrote. “This horror must stop.” Tor Wennesland, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, condemned the airstrikes and said he was “deeply saddened by the deaths of so many women and children in one area.” areas where people must seek shelter.”
German public broadcaster reported that the country’s deputy prime minister, Robert Habeck, said on Saturday that Israel’s attack in Rafah was “inconsistent with international law”. Senior German officials have previously warned Israel against attacking Rafah, but Mr. Habeck’s comments appeared to reflect a tougher tone in a country with a long tradition. supporting policies for Israel.
“Israel must not carry out this attack, at least not in the way it did in the Gaza Strip before, bombing refugee camps, etc.,” Mr. Habeck said.
The Israeli military said the attack targeted a Hamas compound and that it used “precision munitions” to kill two senior Hamas leaders. But at least 45 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the strike and subsequent fire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
In a statement, a White House National Security Council spokesman acknowledged that the attack killed two senior leaders responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel and said that Israel “ has the right to go after Hamas.”
“But as we have made clear, Israel must take every possible precaution to protect civilians,” said Eduardo Maia Silva, a spokesman for the council, before mentioning the Israel Defense Forces and added: “We are actively engaging the IDF and partners. at the scene to assess what happened and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation.”
The attack drew criticism from aid groups, such as the International Rescue Committee, which issued a statement saying it was “horrifying” and calling the area hit a “safe zone”. Nominated”. Israeli officials emphasized that the attack took place outside what they designated as a safe zone for civilians. IRC also called for an end to the Israeli attack, a complete ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations emergency relief coordinator, denounced the Israeli attack on social media and appeared to refer to Israeli military operations in southern Gaza, lamenting the how aid agencies have struggled to receive goods on the scale needed.
“Such impunity cannot continue,” Mr Griffiths said.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the main United Nations aid agency for the Palestinians, described the images provided by Rafah as “proof of how Rafah has turned into a living hell.”
The agency had difficulty communicating with its teams on the ground in Rafah, he said, and some of his staff remained unidentified.
“UNRWA is doing everything possible not to disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid. But with each passing day, support and protection become almost impossible,” Mr. Lazzarini wrote on X.
Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, said continued attacks in Rafah pose “catastrophic risk to the children sheltering there”, adding that many children have suffered endured loss and extreme hardship.
“They must be protected, along with some of the remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive,” Ms. Russell wrote.
