Conflict in the Middle Eastern region - Following a lethal Israeli assault, an urgent session is called at the UN Security Council to discuss the crisis in Rafah.
Following the devastating Israeli air raid on a refugee camp in Rafah, Gaza, the UN Security Council has convened an emergency meeting for Tuesday. The meeting, which will be held in private, will discuss the situation in Rafah.
In the aftermath of this tragedy that has drawn international grief, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeled it as a "tragic accident." The Israeli army has initiated an investigation into the matter. Earlier reports from AFP journalists mention fresh assaults on Rafah.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack, stating that at least 45 people were killed, including many innocent Palestinians. "There's no safe place in Gaza," he noted. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk declared the situation as "appalling."
The US government was dismayed by the large number of civilian casualties. A spokesperson from the National Security Council described the images from the site with slain Palestinians as "devastating" and "heartbreaking." They urged Israel to "take every possible precaution to protect civilians."
The US government also contacted the Israeli army and other onsite partners to gather more information on the air raid.
In Berlin, the German government responded cautiously. Though the incident might constitute a war crime, according to government spokesman Steffen Seibert, it's up to lawyers to confirm this. He further described the event as "condemnable."
The Hamas-administered Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed 45 deaths and 249 injuries. The camp, run by the UN Palestinian Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), is situated northwest of Rafah.
The Israeli military stated they targeted a Hamas complex in Rafah, where significant Hamas terrorists were active. As per reports, two senior Hamas associates, involved in planning attacks in the occupied West Bank, were killed. The Israeli army's chief of staff proposed to evaluate and investigate the incident. Netanyahu expressed regret over the loss of innocent lives in Rafah. "Despite our best efforts, it resulted in a tragic accident," he told the parliament in Jerusalem. He also mentioned that a thorough analysis of the incident is underway.
More than a million refugees have flocked to Rafah to seek shelter amidst the Israeli offensive. Israel believes there are still lingering Hamas battalions in the region. The Israeli attack on Rafah was retaliation for Rafah's massive rocket attack, hitting Tel Aviv and Israel's interior for the first time in months, according to Israeli reports. On Tuesday, new attacks were reported on Rafah, as per AFP journalist observations.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, categorized as a terrorist group by the US and EU, has been ongoing for over seven months. On October 7, Hamas executed a massive assault on Israel, leading to the death of 1170 Israelis and 252 hostages held in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel engaged in a relentless military offensive. According to the health ministry of the Hamas-administered territory, more than 36,000 people have died.
By Tuesday, Spain, Ireland, and Norway aim to declare their recognition of a Palestinian state officially. A press conference is set to occur in Brussels. This clearly signifies a deviation from the conventional stance of Western nations having acknowledged a Palestinian state exclusively as part of a peace treaty with Israel. This drastic step has received sharp rebukes in Israel.
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- At the emergency UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to address the lethal Israeli assault in Rafah, Gaza Strip.
- The UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, have been providing aid and shelter to the refugees fleeing the conflict in the Gaza Strip, specifically in Rafah.
- The UN Human Rights Council, led by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, has expressed concern over the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the Rafah area, and called for an independent investigation into the Israeli air raid.
- The European countries of Spain, Ireland, and Norway, in a move opposed by Israel, have announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state officially, citing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the need for a peaceful resolution, including the Rafah situation.
Source: www.stern.de
