Gaza: On Sunday, Israel launched a devastating bombardment in Rafah, the southernmost city in Palestine’s Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of at least 40 lives. According to Palestinian media reports, the intense bombing ignited a fire in the refugee tents located there, leading to the tragic deaths of many individuals.
Details:
- Refugee Camps Under Attack: Thousands of Palestinians currently reside in makeshift refugee tents near the warehouses of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Rafah. The Israeli army targeted this area with approximately eight rockets on Sunday. The densely populated region houses displaced families who have sought refuge in these tents.
- Unprecedented Assault: The magnitude of this attack by Israel is unprecedented in Rafah. Never before has such a massive bombardment occurred in this city. The flimsy plastic and tin tents caught fire, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
- Terrifying Scenes: A viral video clip circulating on Facebook captures the horrifying sight of flames rapidly engulfing the entire area. The fire consumed numerous tents, and civil defense and ambulance workers faced immense challenges while retrieving the bodies.
- Safe Zone Declaration Ignored: Palestinian security sources, as quoted by the news agency Xinhua, reveal that the Israeli army had previously declared the targeted area a “safe zone.” Despite this, the bombardment occurred, raising questions about adherence to international norms.
- Hamas Reacts: In a statement issued on Sunday night, Hamas condemned the bombing as a blatant disregard for the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) call to halt attacks in Rafah. The ICJ had specifically demanded that Israel cease its military actions in this region.
- IDF’s Justification: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions, stating that they targeted a Hamas camp in Rafah based on accurate intelligence and by international law.
- Strategic Control: Earlier, on May 7, the Israeli army announced its control over the Palestinian part of the crossing in the eastern Rafah area, effectively blocking aid from entering Gaza. Israel views Rafah as the last stronghold of Hamas, which has maintained control over the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The situation in Gaza remains tense, and international attention is focused on the tragic consequences of this recent bombardment. The loss of life and destruction of refugee tents underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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