An Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza city of Rafah that killed dozens of displaced Palestinians has drawn widespread international condemnation, with world leaders calling for an investigation into the attack and increasing pressure on Israel to end its military operations in the south.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he was “outraged” by the bombings and called for “full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire.”
“These actions must stop,” he said, referring to Sunday’s strike. No safe area Serving Palestinian civilians in Rafah.”
The attack, which came two days after the International Court of Justice appeared to order Israel to immediately halt its offensive on the city, was under review, an Israeli military legal official said.
“It is appalling that an attack in such a densely populated civilian area had such an entirely predictable outcome,” said UN human rights chief Volker Türk.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Alvarez At a press conference On Monday, he plans to ask foreign ministers from other EU member states to support the international court’s ruling against Israel and take steps if Israel proceeds with the Rafah operation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres published an article on the X website condemning Israel’s actions.
“There is no safe place in Gaza.” Mr. Guterres wrote“This terror must stop.” Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, condemned the air strikes and said he was “deeply disturbed by the deaths of so many women and children in an area where people were seeking refuge.”
German Public Broadcasting Corporation Reported German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said on Saturday that Israel’s offensive in Rafah was “not in accordance with international law.” Senior German officials had previously warned Israel not to attack Rafah, but Habeck’s comments seemed to represent Germany’s long-standing hardline stance toward Israel. Support Policy For Israel.
“Israel must not launch this attack, at least not in the same way as it did before in the Gaza Strip, bombing refugee camps and so on,” Habeck said.
The Israeli military said the attack targeted a Hamas building and used “precision munitions” to kill two senior Hamas leaders. But the Gaza Health Ministry said the attack and subsequent fire killed at least 45 people and injured more than 200.
In a statement, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council acknowledged that the attack killed two senior leaders responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel and said Israel “has the right to go after Hamas.”
“But we have made it clear that Israel must take every possible precaution to protect civilians,” committee spokesman Eduardo Maia Silva said before referring to the IDF, adding, “We are actively engaging with the IDF and its partners on the ground to assess what happened and understand that the IDF is conducting an investigation.”
The attack drew criticism from aid groups such as the International Rescue Committee, which issued a statement saying they were “shocked” and called the area attacked a “designated safe zone.” Israeli officials insisted the attack took place outside their designated safe zone for civilians. The International Rescue Committee also called on Israel to stop the attack, implement a full ceasefire, and release all hostages.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths condemned the Israeli attack on social media and expressed regret that aid agencies were having difficulty raising the scale of supplies needed, referring to Israeli military activities in southern Gaza.
“This climate of impunity cannot continue,” Mr Griffiths said.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the main UN aid agency for Palestine, said the images coming out of Rafah were “proof that Rafah has become a living hell”.
He said the agency was having difficulty contacting its team on the ground in Rafah and some staff were unaccounted for.
“UNRWA is doing everything it can to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance. But as each day passes, it becomes almost impossible to provide assistance and protection.” Mr. Lazzarini Written on X.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the ongoing attacks in Rafah “pose a catastrophic risk to the children who have taken refuge there,” adding that many children have already suffered extreme loss and hardship.
“They must be protected, along with the few basic services and infrastructure they need to survive.” Ms Russell wrote.
