Israeli forces have bombed a tent camp in Rafah, designated as a safe zone, resulting in the deaths of at least 35 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. The attack on the Tal as-Sultan area is part of a broader offensive that has targeted shelters housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia, Nuseirat, and Gaza City over the past 24 hours, leading to an additional 160 fatalities, according to Palestinian officials.
Kopyala, paylaş, RT et paylaş 👇🏼
— Seda ARSLAN (@ArslanSdarslnn) May 26, 2024
Israel strikes civilian gathering places.
Israel is killing civilians in Rafah, which it declared a safe zone.
The Zionists are bombing Rafah, which they declared a safe zone and gathered civilians. #RafahOnFire pic.twitter.com/goxaKKCGd8
Military Confirms Strike, Cites Hamas Target
The Israeli military has confirmed the attack, asserting that it was aimed at Hamas fighters using precision weaponry. They acknowledged that civilians were injured when a fire broke out and stated that the incident is under investigation.
Escalating Death Toll
Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, at least 35,984 Palestinians have been killed, and up to 80,643 have been wounded in Gaza. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s initial attack stands at 1,139, with dozens still held captive.
Legal and Diplomatic Reactions
Violation of International Court Orders
Triestino Mariniello, a lawyer with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, criticized Israel’s actions in Rafah, stating they contravene the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) binding provisional measures, which recently ordered a cessation of military activities in Rafah. Mariniello condemned Israel’s designation of safe zones as “completely arbitrary,” suggesting it could amount to the crime of forcible transfer of a population.
Call for International Intervention
Mariniello urged the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action to enforce the ICJ’s rulings. He emphasized the urgency of an international response to halt further escalation and ensure compliance with international law.
Diplomatic Observations
In New York, diplomats from the UN’s 193 member states are closely monitoring the situation with growing concern. Despite the ICJ’s recent ruling and calls from several Security Council ambassadors for Israel to comply, the latest events in Rafah demonstrate a blatant disregard for these directives. The international community is now watching to see how the situation will unfold and what steps will be taken to address this critical humanitarian crisis.
Israeli Airstrike in Rafah Targets Senior Hamas Officials, Civilians Harmed
The Israeli military has announced that a recent airstrike in Rafah successfully targeted and killed two senior Hamas officials, including Yassin Rabia, Hamas’s chief of staff in the West Bank. This was confirmed in the army’s second statement on the attack, describing the strike as precise.
Civilian Casualties and Fires in Overcrowded Camp
The airstrike, which struck a “Hamas compound,” has also reportedly caused harm to several civilians due to subsequent fires in the overcrowded tent camp. The camp, located near an UNRWA logistics space in Tal as-Sultan, had become a temporary refuge for thousands of internally displaced Palestinians who believed the area to be safe based on Israeli evacuation orders.
Terrorist state Israel led Gaza people to Rafah, and began to burn them by bombing their tents. You all tried to make us believe that Rafah will be a safe zone, but you’re sharing this cruelty.#RafahOnFire pic.twitter.com/2v956F2OSA
— Muhammed Furkan Yaşar (@mizahsimsari) May 26, 2024
Overcrowded Conditions and Safety Concerns
Residents set up their tents in this area, hoping it would provide shelter from ongoing attacks. However, the density and flammable materials of the makeshift tents exacerbated the situation, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Civil defense teams have been struggling for hours to control the blaze.
Inadequate Medical Facilities
The only hospital in Rafah, which has only eight beds and no ICU unit, is overwhelmed and unable to adequately treat the severe injuries resulting from the strike. This highlights the dire medical situation and the limited capacity to handle such emergencies.
Repeated Strikes and Escalating Injuries
Rafah has been subjected to multiple airstrikes, and the area continues to witness an increasing number of injuries. The ongoing conflict and repeated targeting of supposed safe zones underscore the urgent need for effective humanitarian intervention and support.
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