An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah, Gaza, resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people, including children. This incident occurred just days after the International Court of Justice demanded that Israel cease its operations in Rafah. The attack has sparked international outrage and further intensified Israel’s global isolation regarding the Gaza conflict.
Israel launched an attack on Rafah late Sunday after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at the Tel Aviv area, most of which were intercepted.
Despite an order from the top UN court last week to halt the operation, Israeli forces continued their assault on the border town, which had been seen as the last refuge in the territory.
The phrase “All eyes on Rafah” refers to the ongoing violence in this Gaza city. It is trending on social media as global support increases for Palestinians affected by the Israeli strikes.
Several celebrities have shared support messages with the hashtag #AllEyesOnRafah. The phrase has picked up steam as a call for awareness of the ongoing war.
Rafah was a major entry point for humanitarian aid before Israel stepped up its military offensive on the Gaza side of the border earlier this month and seized control of the crossing.
Fighting in Rafah has caused more than 1 million Palestinians to flee, most of whom had already been displaced in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinians say they are vulnerable to Israeli attacks wherever they go and have been moving up and down the Gaza Strip in the past few months.
When Israeli forces told those in the north to evacuate, before conducting operations in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Yunis, hundreds of thousands had fled south to Rafah.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said in a statement that Israeli shelling in and around health facilities in Rafah has left just one still operational.
Humanitarian groups warn of a spiraling crisis in Gaza after the fighting in Rafah cut off the main aid routes into the territory.
Israel’s Long-Threatened Rafah Incursion
Rafah offensive stirred renewed outrage and prompted an outcry from global leaders. Israel, however, vowed to press on with the Rafah strike despite the global condemnation and a US warning.
The United Nations has issued ongoing warnings about an imminent famine, particularly in northern Gaza, which remains besieged. Concerns have escalated following the recent incursion in Rafah, with the UN Secretary-General expressing increasing alarm over malnutrition in the southern region.
The Israeli military reported that their airstrikes targeted a Hamas facility in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of two senior Hamas figures, Yassin Rabia and Khaled Nagar. They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties from the strike and subsequent fires, indicating that the incident is currently under investigation.
Pressure is mounting on the United States to adopt a more assertive position following a deadly airstrike in a Gaza city. Questions are arising regarding how long President Joe Biden can tolerate the Israeli military operation in Rafah, especially since the International Court of Justice, where both the US and Israel are members, has issued an order to cease such actions.
