Hamas confirms 45 fatalities following strike on refugee settlement near Rafah.
Yesterday, a tragic event unfolded in Rafah, causing the deaths of 45 people, including 23 women, children, and the elderly. The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas, detailed the devastating loss. Additionally, 249 individuals were injured. Based on Palstinian accounts, the incident occurred in the UN Palestinian Relief Works (UNRWA) refugee camp of Barkasat, positioned northwest of Rafah.
Early Monday morning, AFP news agency captured images of the pitiful remains of temporary shelters and automobiles that were consumed by fire. The Gaza Strip's Civil Defense disclosed that these bodies were largely "incinerated". The unexplainable fire spread throughout the refugee camp due to the assault.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, a humanitarian non-profit organization, shared images from the previous night, capturing medics speeding to the scene in ambulances and assisting the injured. The International Red Cross added that injured persons reached one of their field hospitals due to "injuries and burns": "We are doing everything possible to save lives."
On the contrary, the Israeli army asserted that a "Hamas complex in Rafah" was targeted during the air raid, where "significant Hamas terrorists were operating." The objective of this "precision weaponry" attack was to target "legitimate objectives."
The attack allegedly led to the demise of two high-level Hamas representatives who were said to have been engaged in planning West Bank attacks. The Israeli military also admitted to exploring allegations that "as a result of the assault and the fire, nearby civilians sustained injuries." A government representative voiced their intentions to investigate. "This was very grave. Every civilian life loss is profound and horrific," expressed Avi Hyman.
The Israeli airstrike on Rafah transpired following a rocket launch from the Gaza Strip. As per Israeli assertions, rockets were discharged at Tel Aviv and other city centers in Israel for the first time in several months.
Criticism of the Israeli airstrike emerged predominantly from the Arab world. Egypt's Foreign Ministry denounced the strike as a "precise bombing of refugee tents by Israeli forces" on Monday. Jordan accused Israel of perpetrating "ongoing war crimes."
Qatar, playing the role of mediator in the negotiations of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages, informed of a "dangerous violation of international law." The Foreign Ministry in Doha voiced apprehension that the bombardment would complicate ongoing mediation efforts and restrict the attainment of an agreement on an immediate and durable ceasefire.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that his country would "do everything in its power" to hold Israel accountable for the massacre. He referred to the incident as such.
The German government responded cautiously. Legal analysis is required to determine if this incident warrants the classification of a war crime, according to Steffen Hebestreit, a government spokesman. "This is a valid consideration," he asserted. Nonetheless, a verdict cannot be decided solely on the basis of pictures.
France's President Emmanuel Macron appealed for the cessation of Israeli attacks on Rafah on an online platform. "There are no safe places for civilians in Rafah," he declared in English. "I demand unequivocal adherence to international law and an immediate ceasefire." Recently, the ICJ in The Hague called for the cessation of Israel's assault on Rafah.
The Gaza Strip conflict has perpetuated for over seven months. Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU, carried out a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7 and, according to Israeli claims, killed more than 1,170 people. Also, 252 individuals were allegedly captivated as hostages and transported to the Gaza Strip.
In response to the attack, Israel has embarked upon a substantial military campaign in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip's Health Ministry, belonging to the Hamas-controlled region, reported that more than 36,000 people have perished since. In Rafah, a city bordering Egypt, over a million individuals have sought refuge from Israel's offensive. Israel considers Rafah to be the remaining bastion of Hamas fighters.
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- The German government is currently analyzing whether the recent air attack in Rafah could be classified as a war crime.
- The Red Crescent dispatched ambulances to the UNRWA refugee camp in Barkasat following the BMG air attack, with medics attending to the injured and burned individuals.
- The Israeli military claimed that the air attack on Rafah targeted a Hamas complex, where significant terrorists were operating.
- The AFP news agency reported that the aftermath of the BMG air attack in Rafah showed the destruction of temporary shelters and vehicles, with many bodies found largely incinerated.
- Turkey's President Erdogan condemned the BMG air attack in Rafah as a "massacre" and vowed to hold Israel accountable.
- The attack in Rafah followed a rocket launch from the Gaza Strip, aiming at Tel Aviv and other city centers in Israel for the first time in several months.
- The IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) expressed concern over the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip, calling for the protection of civilians and the respect of international humanitarian law.
- The Israeli military announced an investigation into allegations that nearby civilians sustained injuries during the BMG air attack on Rafah, following the death of 45 individuals, including women, children, and the elderly.
- Several international organizations, including the EU and the US, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and have called for an immediate ceasefire to end the violence in the Gaza Strip.
- Efforts to mediate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have been complicated by the BMG air attack on Rafah, which led to the death of dozens of civilians and widespread destruction.
Source: www.stern.de
