Western nations denounce Israel’s deadly strikes on Rafah
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The news: Leaders of western nations have decried Israel’s strikes on a tent city in Rafah, southern Gaza, which killed dozens of civilians on Monday.
The numbers: At least 35 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike at the camp for displaced people according to the Hamas-run ministry of health.
The context: Fires and explosions tore through the camp in Rafah’s Tal-as-Sultan neighbourhood, prompting a host of leaders to condemn Israel’s attacks.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that he was “outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced persons in Rafah. These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.” Macron also called for an immediate ceasefire.
Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto said the attacks can no longer be justified during a television interview, adding: “the Palestinian people are being squeezed without regard for the rights of innocent men, women and children who have nothing to do with Hamas.”
European diplomats including EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, are demanding that Israel comply with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on Friday that Israel must "immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah."
Borrell stated “everybody agrees that the rulings of the International Court of Justice are binding, and they have to be implemented”. Borrell’s comments were repeated by the foreign ministers for Germany and Spain.
Late last week Ireland, Spain and Norway announced plans to officially recognise the Palestinian State, after the ICC issued an application for arrest warrants for leaders of both Israel and the Hamas Islamist group.
Earlier on Tuesday, reports of Egyptian and Israeli troops exchanging fire at the Rafah Crossing emerged, increasing concerns of a major escalation in tension between the two countries. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged there had been a shooting incident on the Egyptian border, and that “The incident is under review and discussions are being held with the Egyptians.”
The sources: Financial Times, Bloomberg
