RAFAH: Gaza’s civil defence agency said on Monday that the death toll had risen to 45 from overnight Israeli strikes that set ablaze tents housing displaced Palestinians in Rafah, an attack that sparked condemnation across the world. The attack also left scores injured.
According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, the strikes, which occurred late Sunday, triggered a fire that tore through a displacement center in northwest Rafah. Mohammad al-Mughayyir, an official from the agency, described the aftermath as a “massacre,” with charred bodies and dismembered limbs among the harrowing scenes.
Survivors recounted the horror of the attack, with one Palestinian woman recalling how her family had just finished evening prayers when the assault began. Children screamed as fire surrounded them, leaving behind a scene of chaos and devastation.
Footage released by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society showed paramedics evacuating the wounded, including children, from the fiery site. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported an influx of casualties seeking treatment for injuries and burns at one of its field hospitals.
Israel’s army stated that the airstrikes targeted a compound in Rafah.
The attack drew strong condemnation from regional powers, with Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar denouncing the assault as a violation of international law and accusing Israel of war crimes. Egypt deplored the “targeting of defenseless civilians,” while Jordan labeled it as part of “ongoing war crimes.”
The strike followed a rocket attack on Tel Aviv earlier on Sunday, marking the first such barrage in months.
Qatar expressed concern that the latest violence could hinder progress towards a ceasefire agreement.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing nearly 36,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israeli actions in Gaza have been widely condemned as genocide. The United Nations has warned of a looming famine in the besieged enclave, where hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties.
The bloodshed in Gaza has sparked a global backlash against Israel, with increasing calls for accountability before international courts. Spain, Ireland, and Norway are set to formally recognize a Palestinian state, a move vehemently opposed by Israel.
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