Within a few days of the verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel struck the makeshift camp area in Rafah, resulting in the deaths of more than 45 displaced people.
Witnesses and hospital officials report that the attacks launched on May 28th targeted the same area where previous strikes had caused a deadly fire days earlier in a camp for displaced Palestinians. In addition, earlier on that day, Spain, Norway, and Ireland officially recognized Palestinian statehood.
However, amid growing global condemnation of the blast, Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel stated that the strikes which claimed the lives of scores of displaced Palestinians in Rafah on Sunday were a “tragic mishap”. Nonetheless, the outcome of the initial investigation released on May 28th by the Israeli military indicated that the cause of the fire is still being examined. Additionally, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagri, a military spokesperson, mentioned that the munitions utilized were too small to have triggered the blaze.
Despite being designated as a ‘safe zone’ with makeshift tents housing hundreds of displaced people, the area endured 60 bombs. It could have likely ignited fuel, cooking gas, and other flammable materials at the camps.
Additionally, shelling late Monday and early Tuesday struck Rafah’s eastern district, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people. Seven of the victims were in tents near a UN facility, approximately 200 meters from the site of the previous attack.
Global Outrage
Global leaders condemned the fire in Rafah’s designated humanitarian zone. The Vice President of the United States remarked, “The word ‘tragic’ doesn’t even begin to describe” what happened on Sunday.
Whereas Saudi Arabia, which has to some extent, tried to normalize relations with Israel, before the War erupted, reportedly has accused Israel of committing “genocide Massacres”.
Additionally, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General condemned the attack and emphasized the critical aid situation in Gaza. He asserted that Israeli authorities must allow, facilitate, and ensure the immediate, safe, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2720 (2023).
The resolution passed last December created the position of a UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator, responsible for facilitating, coordinating, monitoring, and verifying aid shipments to the enclave.
Tragedy went Viral on Social Media
The phrase “All Eyes on Rafah” has now inundated social media. This text with the image in the background, is appearing on countless Instagram stories, dominating the online discussion about Israel’s war on Gaza. Since May 25th, the day after Israel’s deadly offensive on Rafah, it has been reshared in over 40 million Instagram stories.
The war on Gaza has forced many Palestinians to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. By February, a significant number had been displaced to Rafah. Subsequently, Israel announced plans to launch a ground operation in Rafah, alleging that four brigades of Hamas, the group governing the Gaza Strip, were stationed there.
The phrase “All eyes on Rafah” was mentioned by Dr. Rick Peeperkorn, director of the World Health Organization’s Office of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), during a WHO press briefing in Rafah in February, in response to the announcement.