Palestinian officials report the Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah on Sunday killed at least 50 persons and wounded dozens.
A health ministry official said most of the casualties were women and children and that many more are still trapped in the flaming debris. The camp is shelter to thousands who fled war in northern Gaza.
This strike occurred only two days after the International Court of Justice issued a ruling, urging Israel to halt its military operations in order to save civilian lives.
The Israeli military confirmed it struck the area with “precise ammunition and based on precise intelligence.” but claimed it was targeting a Hamas compound. They acknowledged some civilians may have been hurt, and promised to launch a full scale investigation.
Horrific images from the scene show extensive destruction. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported an influx of casualties into its field hospital in Rafah, with other hospitals also receiving many patients.
“Gaza is truly hell on earth, and no place is safe.”
UNRWA
The airstrike hit an area just 500 meters from this camp run by UNRWA. A UNRWA spokesman, Tamara Alrifai, said, “The images coming out are totally horrific, and we are seeing reports of mass casualties, including children and women among those killed. Gaza is truly hell on earth, and no place is safe.”
A senior Hamas official called the attack a “massacre“, and blamed the United States for emboldening Israel. One resident of Rafah described “burning tents and melting bodies“.
The Sunday Israeli attacks have provoked another round of international condemnations. Qatar and Saudi Arabia criticized the attack. Italy issued a strong criticism, describing the Israel attack as unjustifiable. Italian Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, said, “There is an increasingly difficult situation, in which the Palestinian people are being squeezed without regard for the rights of innocent men, women, and children who have nothing to do with Hamas and this can no longer be justified.”
Please comment and share this article, & Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
