Israel launches all-out attack on Rafah: International community condemns

On May 28, Israel launched a full-scale attack on the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, with airstrikes and tanks, despite international condemnation. At least 45 people were killed.

People in Rafah, Gaza evacuated to avoid Israeli attacks. Photo: Reuters

Bloody attack

At least 16 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah. Israeli tanks also advanced toward residential areas. The Israeli attack on a displacement camp in Rafah on May 26 killed at least 45 people and injured 200 others. This was one of the bloodiest attacks by the Israeli army on the southernmost city of Gaza since Israel began its air campaign in Gaza on May 7.

Residents in Rafah said Israeli tanks were stationed on and around Zurub Hill, a high ground overlooking western Rafah, advancing from an area near the Egyptian border crossing where Israeli forces launched their attack three weeks ago. The Tel Al-Sultan area, where the deadly attack occurred on May 26, is still being heavily bombed.

According to the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), about one million people have fled the Israeli offensive in Rafah since early May. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive since October 8, 2023. Israel launched the operation after Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.

The UN, EU and the US have strong measures.

In response to the attack, global leaders called for the implementation of the order of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the United Nations (UN) issued on May 24 to stop the Israeli attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli airstrike that killed 45 people in Rafah. He posted on social network X: “I condemn the Israeli action that killed dozens of innocent civilians who were just seeking shelter from this deadly conflict. There is no safe place in Gaza. The horror must end.”

The UN Security Council held a meeting on May 28 (New York time) following the Israeli attack on Rafah. The meeting was called by Algeria, the representative of Saudi Arabia on the council, and supported by Slovenia.

As for the European Union (EU), Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said that the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on May 27 discussed for the first time sanctions against Israel if it does not comply with the ICJ's ruling. According to CNN, speaking to journalists, Mr. Martin said there was a very clear consensus on the need to uphold the rulings of international humanitarian and legal institutions such as the ICJ.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced in a live television broadcast that the Spanish government approved the official recognition of the state of Palestine on May 28. He called the recognition “a historic decision - contributing to helping Israelis and Palestinians live in peace .”

Norway and Ireland also formally recognized a Palestinian state on May 28, a move that will strengthen the Palestinian cause globally but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

KHANH MINH compiled

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/israel-tan-cong-tong-luc-rafah-cong-dong-quoc-te-len-an-post742034.html