Global outrage over Israeli bombing of Rafah displaced persons camp

Israel faces a wave of international condemnation this Monday for a bombing that, according to Gaza authorities, killed 45 people in a displaced persons camp in Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian territory, governed by the Islamist movement Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented a “tragic accident” and announced that his government was “doing research” what happened.

The bombing was carried out on Sunday night as part of the offensive launched by Israel against Hamas more than seven months ago, following the deadly attack by Hamas Islamist commandos in Israeli territory on October 7.

The Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip reported that “the massacre“in Rafah he had left”45 dead” and “249 injured”.

According to the Israeli army, the bombing targeted Hamas militants and the planes managed to hit “an installation” of the Islamist group, killing two senior officials.

The UN asked Israel to carry out an investigation “comprehensive and transparent” about the bombing and the United States urged the country to “take all precautions to protect civilians.”

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, said on the social networkthese operations“must”cease” and the head of foreign policy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, stated that he was “horrified” For the news.

“We are investigating. Any loss of life, of civilian life, is serious and terrible“, declared Avi Hyman, spokesman for the Israeli government, ensuring that Israel “attempts to limit civilian casualties.”

“The children were screaming.”

The bombing came hours after Hamas fired rockets at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and other areas of central Israel. Israeli air defenses shot down most of the rockets and no casualties were reported.

According to Gaza’s civil protection agency, the bombing caused a fire that devastated a displaced persons camp northwest of Rafah.

“We saw charred bodies (…) We also saw amputations, injured children, women and the elderly.”said Mohamed al Mughayyir, an employee of the agency.

“We had just finished the night prayer (…) our children were sleeping, suddenly we heard a loud noise and saw fire everywhere. “The children were screaming, the noise was terrifying.”said a survivor who did not want to be identified.

Mohammad Hamad, 24, said: “people were not injured or killed: there were burns”.

“My cousin’s daughter, a girl of at most 13 years old, was one of the ‘martyrs’. Her features were unrecognizable because the shrapnel tore her face off.”, he said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross indicated that one of its field hospitals was receiving a “influx of wounded people seeking care for injuries and burns.”

Footage recorded by AFP crews on Monday showed charred remains of tents and Palestinian families contemplating the destruction.

After the bombing, Hamas called on the Palestinians to “get up and go” against “slaughter” of the Israeli army.

“War crimes”

“In Rafah we evacuated a million residents who are not involved and, despite our efforts, a tragic accident occurred yesterday (Sunday)”Netanyahu declared before Parliament.

The Israeli attack sparked condemnation from several countries in the region.

Egypt denounced a “attack on defenseless civilians”, Jordan accused Israel of committing “war crimes” and Saudi Arabia condemned “the continuous massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces”.

Türkiye promised to do “everything possible to hold these barbarians and murderers accountable”.

Qatar, which is acting as a mediator with the United States and Egypt to achieve a truce in the conflict and the release of hostages held by Islamists in the Strip, warned that the bombing could “block” those negotiations.

On the other hand, the Israeli army reported that it is investigating a shooting that occurred this Monday on the border between Gaza and Egypt. The Egyptian army confirmed the death of a border guard.

The war broke out on October 7, when Islamist commandos killed more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.

The militants also kidnapped 252 people. Israel claims that 121 remain kidnapped in Gaza, of which 37 have died.

In response, Israel promised “annihilate” to Hamas and launched an air and ground offensive against Gaza, which has so far left 36,050 dead, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.