Despite worldwide outrage over Israel’s deadly airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah on Sunday, Israeli tanks have reportedly rolled into the city centre.
Witnesses said the tanks are stationed at a strategically important location overlooking the nearby Egyptian border.
This comes after Israel launched another attack on the Tel al-Sultan area on Tuesday, killing 21 more people in a designated “safe zone” meant to shelter hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians.
At least 45 people were killed in Sunday’s airstrike, which caused a massive fire in the crowded refugee camp area.
Images of charred, decapitated, and dismembered children from that attack prompted global revulsion. Half the dead were women, children, and elderly, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Despite the UN’s top court ordering it to halt attacks on Gaza and criticism from its close ally US over the deadly bombing on Sunday, Israel is still pressing ahead with its onslaught in Rafah.
Over 85% of Gaza’s population have sought refuge in the area, fleeing violence elsewhere, before being forced to move again when Israel’s ground offensive began.
Angry reaction to Rafah killings
Thousands have taken to the streets across the world in protest, angrily denouncing the deadly bombing.
Neighbouring Egypt and Jordan condemned the strike, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to hold “barbaric” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable. Qatar also condemned the attack in the strongest terms.
France said was outraged by the Rafah strike. President Emmanuel Macron posted on X. “There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians. I call for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire.”
Netanyahu said in parliament that “something unfortunately went tragically wrong” with the airstrike.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said he was “horrified” by the Israeli airstrike “killing dozens of displaced persons, including small children. I condemn this in the strongest terms.”
Italy’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, said to Sky TG24: “Israel, with this choice, is spreading hatred, rooting hatred that will involve their children and grandchildren. I would have preferred another decision.”
The African Union Commission head, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said Israel continues to “violate international law with impunity”.
Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, expressed horror and demanded an immediate ceasefire. “This level of human suffering must come to an end,” she said.
